NetGalley Review: Everything You and I Could Have Been If We Weren’t You and I by Albert Espinosa

Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial
Expected to be Published July 2, 2015
203 Pages

Marcos just lost his mother, a famous dancer who is/was his everything. So he decides the world just isn’t the world without her.

So he makes a change, one in which that causes him to live life in an extreme way . . . by not sleeping.

*Short Review*

Espinosa is the creator of my most beloved show The Red Band Society. So it was only natural that I pick up this book. The idea that the future no only believes in sleeping is such an intriguing idea that the author got point simply off this.

However, the book went down hill. Marcos is the most lifeless character I have ever read and although I understand why the author choose that route for most of the book, it made for a hard read.

I also felt some type of way about Marcos relationship with his mother. It was off. Which made me see why Marcos was off.  Even after everything was said and done, it made a hard book even harder.

This book is part of my DNF list. The concept of not having to sleep again was great and it really brought attention to the book but the main character. . . I just couldn’t do it.

2 Pickles

 

Book Review: Things We Know by Heart by Jessi Kirby

HarperTeen
Published April 21, 2015
304 Pages

Quinn lost her boyfriend Trent in a car accident in their junior year of high school. To help heal and move on, Quinn has turned to the recipients of Trent’s donated organs in order to receive closure. 

Although she hears from most of the recipients, only one person doesn’t respond and that is the person with Trent’s heart. Determined to move on, Quinn tracks down the recipient, only to be surprised at what she finds. 

Colton has a new lease on life and is more than happy to live each day like never before. At what he thinks is in accidental meeting turns into Quinn receiving a new lease on life but at what cost?

Here I go again with realistic fiction. But I enjoyed this one for the most part.

I appreciate the author for taking down a sensitive subject such as organ donation. The biggest question I hear from people is “does that person now see, feel or remember memories from the original owner?” I liked the fact that the author used this question to fuel her book.

Quinn’s whole life surrounded by Trent. You don’t really know who she is outside of her lost. This made it hard for me to get into the book at times. I wanted to know Quinn more and I didn’t want to only associate her with her lost. Yes, she develops but her personality was missing.

I did love Colton. I believe I loved him so much because of the contrast with the main character. The author did a really good job of showing clear differences between the two while also showing what brought them together was Trent. I am pretty much stating the obvious while avoiding the biggest issue I had with this book and almost all realistic novels. . .  the pace.

Because Quinn was a lackluster character throughout the entire book the pace was slow. I wanted more from Quinn so bad it hurt. I understand lost and I understand lost as a teenager. I understand being broken and feeling dead inside but even when love was forming Quinn didn’t develop enough for me and it caused the pace of the novel to stall.

Beyond that I felt that this book was emotional (in a good way) and a insightful read. It is recommended to those who love realistic fiction.

3 Pickles

Book Review: The Tiny Book of Tiny Stories Vol. 3 by (Editor) Joseph Gordon-Levitt

It Books
Published Nov. 5, 2013
128 Pages

“I want desperately to press you between the pages of a book and keep you forever.”

Volume three of short stories and illustrations depicting emotional, humorous, lonely and sad parts of life.

I love the “Tiny Book of Tiny Stories.”  It’s amazing how a few sentences can make you feel better, make you think deeply, smile or make you feel as if there is someone out there who understands.

This will be a short review because there is nothing bad I can say about this book and that is really because I was able to relate more and feel appreciative of these stories.

5 Pickles (the originality and the relevance)

Book Review: Manuscript Found in Accra by Paulo Coelho

Paulo Coelho is known for his inspiring and life changing stories. I wouldn’t consider his books self help but that doesn’t mean they are not known for help.

Goodreads.com

It is July 14. 1099 and Jerusalem is waiting to be attacked by crusaders that have currently surrounded the gates. There are men, women and some children who either decided not to leave or couldn’t leave waiting to hear from a man named Copt. He is odd to the townspeople but he is considered enlightened and during this time they turn to him to ask questions about various aspects of life.

The good part of this book is the fact that although it begins in 1099, the townspeople problems about their life, mirrors the same problems most people face now. It makes you think how things really don’t change no matter the time period. People get lonely, people are scare of change, and are unable to find love; its amazing how everyone is different but the same at the same time.

Compare to his other books like “11 minutes” and “The Alchemist” , where you had to read in between the lines , Coelho choose a more direct way of giving advice; ask a question receive an answer. Since the story stayed on the same path throughout most, if not the entire book, I can’t say there was something I didn’t like about it. Maybe I wish there was more of a plot to the story. It was a struggle to read because it was so straightforward that you may actually see his book in the self help section of your bookstore or library.

The book gets a 7 out of 10. Loved the idea and the words of wisdom, just wish there was more of a story.