I Failed!

You know what happened? I am simultaneously reading the Clockwork Series while reading "Boys Adrift". And I haven't finished my assigned reading yet. I am sorry. I will have something for sure next week. My husband is astounded because I constantly have my nose in a book and he is wondering how it happened that I haven't finished it yet.

Truth be told I find it really interesting and so I am taking it slow. There are some things I agree and disagree with that is in the book and so I really like it because I try to see what my reasoning is behind the arguments. Anyways, you will have to wait until next week for the review on it. Sorry! :(

If you have any suggestions don't hesitate to comment below.



                             By: J Feistner

The Crown Tower- Michael J. Sullivan

This author is usually one I can count for a wonderful adventure. If you want to see what he's written this is his blog. It's actually pretty interesting compared to other author blogs that I have seen.

Anyways back to the point:

Violence: 4/5
Drug Abuse: 0/5
Nudity: 0/5
Language: 1/5
Sexual Content: 3/5

Violence: They are thieves and to say they were not killing people would barely make them awesome. People are killed in gruesome manners at times and they fight all the time.

Language: What I adore about Michael Sullivan is that he is normally very witty. However it is inevitable to have a type of swear word in your language so it is used a few times.

Sexual Content: There is no specific explanations but hints. One of the characters is a whore and it would be difficult to explain some of the hardships she and other whores endure without a few comments.

Summary

If you haven't met Hadrian and Royce you should. Complete opposite's are forced into a contract for a Professor, Arcadius, they are indebted to in Sheridan. Hadrian worn out from the soldier blood saturated life returns to Sheridan to retrieve the items Arcadius is holding for him from his father's death. Along the way his travels couldn't be normal or any kind of peace. Rather, he ends up trying to suppress mutiny among the barge and upon arrival is the only survivor. Rushing to the authorities they find no evidence of his claims and nearly arrest him for causing a public disturbance.

Lovely Royce. Orphaned at a young age he grew up learning thieving and killing with the Wolves. He is small framed but his agility, and deftness with daggers makes him a bigger opponent then first conceived. He is hired to escort Hadrian to Sheridan and does it his way. At a distance he observes Royce and steps in when Hadrian's life is in danger but all Hadrian see's is a man with death in his eyes under a black hood.

These two are hired by Arcadius to steal a book from the Crown Tower. Sounds simple but their differences seem like ravines that can't meet. With only a few days to achieve the feet they push each other to the limits and attempt to break the contract with Arcadius so they can be rid of each other.

Review

Loved it. I read it in three days. I adore Royce and Hadrian though more of Royce. I also enjoy that not all the events could have been predicted especially about Pickles (can't give it away!) Hadrian's side kick he meets in Vernes. I felt like Royce was really broken down in this book which I was surprised with how he was puzzled by Hadrian and couldn't stand him.

I think Michael Sullivan did well of starting the friendship between two people who are very opposite. It's quite a rare friendship that occurs and I like how they made fun of each other and tried to kill each other but slowly began to realize the benefit of the other.

It wasn't rushed or simply slapped together. There was a lot of thought put into this union and I was grateful for the craftsmanship he showed for their friendship. Check it out if you are looking for adventure and pretty clean fun. I just adore this pair more than Jem and William from the clockwork series. Hadrian and Royce are so well made they feel real.


                                By: J Feistner

Behind the Beautiful Forevers- Katherine Boo

Amazon's Purchase Link

Violence: 4/5
Nudity: 0/5
Drug Abuse: 1/5
Language: 0/5
Sexual Content: 1/5

Violence: There are descriptions of beatings, suicide attempts and successes, and grotesque deaths.

Drug Abuse: Two people consume rat poison.

Sexual content: There are references to some women selling themselves for money but no descriptions.

Summary

It's a dog eat dog world in Annawadi and one wrong move could prove to be your undoing of success. This story focuses on a makeshift village near the Mumbai air port, but as India continues to prosper the government wants to put hotels, water parks or a resort where they are settled.

Asha is seen as the leader of Annawadi though many dislike her ways of business. Loans are available to the poor but she keeps most of the information from the villagers and uses it for her own climb up the social ladder. To secure the money will continue she creates a sham that there is a school in Annawadi and that many kids attend. However, reality is that Manju her daughter who attends college teaches a few children in their living room. Maju dreams of escaping her mothers terrible reputation and ascending out of Annawadi but her mother has other plans.

A low but at times successful trade is the garbage sorters. Among them is Abdul who is largely built and works endlessly from sun up to sun down to help put food on the table. While he was replacing a wall in their shack their neighbor accuses them of tearing apart her shack. An argument ensues between the families and an economic battle begins. The tragedies in Annawadi address the problems of money, sex, power, and manipulation.

Review

This was one of the required reading for last month of Nerdfighter reading list on Goodreads. It takes a while for me to get the books since I rent them from the library so I am a month behind. I like the way it is written. At times it is hard to know when the perspective changes and keeping track of everyone at first but after the first chapter it's not very difficult as you become accustomed to the characters/people.

I say people because these are true tragedies. It wasn't dark, or mopey but the writer at times could be funny and witty which I really enjoyed. What I felt was very important is that the writer explains how it is in the area at least it felt raw to myself while reading.

I won't say that it's a thriller, mystery or of anything like that. It's like reading a documentary which I enjoy and if you don't like documentaries then don't worry about this. What this book was successful at with myself was reminding me how blessed I am for the lifestyle I can lead. I can't imagine what it's like to sleep on the dirt floor and wishing for years to own some tile. Or how lost I could become believing that my future was a failure already and wanted to end it.

I think Abdul and Manju were the only two that I really liked in the book. I would give it a 3/5. It was good and I would recommend it if I knew someone was into this sort of genre but not running around trying to convert people.

You will have to forgive me for the lack of posts. I thought it was automatically updating but it seemed to not work. :( Hopefully we don't have a drought again. :D


       By: J Feistner