Book Review: Little Fish: A Memoir From a Different Kind of Year By: Ramsey Beyer

"i make lists about everything.

some of them are really old, some are new, some i'll make up as we go"

Title: Little Fish: A Memoir From A Different Kind of Year
Author: Ramsey Beyer
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 272
Publisher: Houghton Miffin Harcourt
Release Date: September 2013
Geared Towards: Teens (Ages 12+)
From: Zest Books (Review Copy)
Extra Notes: This is an illustrated novel
I was not paid for this review


Summary (From Front Flap): Ramsey Beyer was a teenager from a small town in Michigan, looking forward to her first year living in a city far away from home. She chronicled that year in a series of zines featuring personalized lists (such as "things I can't wait for" and "top 10 worst sounds") alongside comic illustrations. Through her blog, Ramsey also reflected on her struggles with loneliness, friendship, and potential romance. Ten years later, Little Fish weaves all of these materials into a poignant, beautifully illustrated, and deeply reflective graphic memoir detailing her transformation from an eighteen-year-old small-town teenager to an independent, city-dwelling college art student. The blending of new artwork with old lists and new reflections on past events allows us to see Ramsey's formative year with the excitement of a teenager and the wisdom of an adult. 

Wdebo's Review: Most of the books I review are full length novels, so reviewing Little Fish is a little bit difficult because this is a very interestingly organized book.

As someone who is about to become a college junior, I have been in undergrad long enough to have had time to mull over my freshman experience, but I have only been in this institution for short enough that I can clearly remember my thoughts and feelings when I first came to this school.

The entire work was organized through comic, list and doodle form. It was a great way to explore the journey of Ramsey through her first year in art college. The main idea to take from the book is not the minute details of Ramsey's journey but the patterns and the pathways that she explored. All of our lives, though greatly different, have many similarities, including our explorations of new milestones. College is a life-changing experience that a good percentage of the world's population has the privilege of experiencing. However, the change from home life to college life is a great shock and as exciting as it is frightening. Reading this story really allowed me to reminisce on my experience as a freshman undergrad as I tried to navigate through campus, trying to meet new people and find a little section of campus that I felt like I could blend in with and call my own.

However, since the story goes by pretty fast, I am not entirely sure it's one of those books you should have on your shelf, I believe many people should read it, but maybe consume a library copy of then novel instead.

I recommend this story for anyone who is currently going through a big change, be it going to college or starting at a new job, etc. We go through so many changes in life and it may be frightening but everything will always work out in the end and the journey is a wonderful memory to keep with us as we continue through life.

Cafe Cover Chit Chat: I like the cover, it is a good symbolism of what Ramsey went through. She started out in a small town and migrated to a big city for college. (And that is also shown through the fishbowl she is holding in her arms).

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)

Giveaway + Excerpt: "Gilded Wings: The Angel Chronicles, Book 2"

To celebrate the release of "Gilded Wings: The Angel Chronicles, Book 2" here is a short excerpt from the book.

~~~

“Someone MUCH more important, Anya,” Drew continued, as he pulled her away from his friend, “is Mitchell Charles Carrow. Your benefactor—not to mention mine,” he added with a smile.

The master of the household stood at the head of the table like a king greeting his new guest. Like his older son he had jet black hair, but the brilliant blue eyes of his younger son were beaming from his kind face. He walked gracefully around the corner of the table and bowed dramatically. “Don’t listen to either of these silly boys, Miss Anya. It’s a pleasure to welcome you and Gregori into my home. I’m so happy that Myles will have a friend to keep him company. Drew’s friendship did wonders for Max, and I’m sure that Myles and Gregori will become the best of friends.”

Anya curtsied before the master of the house. “I can’t thank you enough for your kindness, Mr. Carrow.”

“No need.” The elegant man smiled back. “Drew tells me you’re an excellent tutor and a fine young woman. Myles will be lucky to have someone like you lead him into manhood.”

Anya shivered, praying that she would live up to his high expectations. “I think Mr. Parrish may have talked me up a bit too much. I would hate to fail you, sir.”

The younger Carrow male let out a laugh beside Drew. “Don’t worry. The Irish are known for their exaggeration. We don’t expect you to sit atop the pedestal he’s placed you on.”

Anya nodded, trying to understand the meaning of the young master’s words.

~~~

Now for a fun part! The giveaway: Enter below for the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wdebo :)

Singin' Saturday: The Summer in Spain-Rainie Yang

Title: The Summer In Spain
Chinese Title: 曬焦的一雙耳朵 
Artist: Rainie Yang (楊丞琳)
Language: Mandarin Chinese
Extra Info: The lyrics are literally translated into "A Pair of Sun-scorched Ears"
TTS: HERE

Wdebo's Notes: This is such a beautiful song by Rainie. It is wonderful to see how much she has grown as a singer throughout her career. There is definitely a bittersweet feel to both this song and music video. You can feel the sadness in her tone and through the lyrics. I also love how the music video looks. Taiwanese MVs have come a long way and look so much higher budget now. Haha.

Listen and Love!

Wdebo :)

Singin' Saturday: All I Want For Christmas Is You-Divided By Friday

Title: All I Want For Christmas Is You
Artist: Divided By Friday
Language: English
TTS: None

Wdebo's Notes: Since Christmas is only three days away, here is a song that will hopefully get all of us in a Christmas-y mood. Oh goodness, this cover. So wonderful. Jose's voice is lovely and it just fills me up with a great desire to jump up, pour myself a tall glass of eggnog and sit in front of the fireplace to watch Christmas specials on the tv.

Listen and Love!



Wdebo :)

Singin' Saturday: Last Thing On Your Mind-Lights

Title: Last Thing On Your Mind
Artist: Lights
Language: English
TTS: None

Wdebo's Notes: I love Lights. I had been having a very rough week and this was one of the songs that helped me get through it. I love it when music can help raise your spirits because that's exactly what music should be there for. Music should be a friend who will accompany you through the good and the bad and would never leave you no matter what.

Listen and Love!

 Wdebo :)

~~~

Other songs by Lights:

Ice
Toes
Siberia
Second Go

Book Review: Girl Unmoored By: Jennifer Gooch Hummer

"'Sometimes things get broken and people make mistakes. It's just what happens. And then, if you're lucky, they get fixed again, before it's too late'" (317).

Title: Girl Unmoored
Author: Jennifer Gooch Hummer
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 325
Publisher: Fiction Std
Release Date: March 6, 2012
Geared Towards: Older Readers
From: Books Sparks (Review Copy)
Extra Notes: This is her debut novel
I was not paid for this review. 


Summary (From B.O.B): Apron Bramhall has come unmoored. Fortunately, she's about to be saved by Jesus. Not that Jesus-the actor who plays him in Jesus Christ Superstar. Apron is desperate to avoid the look-alike Mike, who's suddenly everywehre, until she's stuck in church with him one day. Then something happens-Apron's broken heart blinks on for the first time since she's been adrift.

Mike and his boyfriend, Chad, offer her a summer job in their flower store, and Apron's world seems to calm. But when she uncovers Chad's secret, story seas return. Apron starts to see things the adults around her fail to-like what love really means, and who is paying too much for it.

Apron has come unmoored, but now she'll need to take the helm if she's to get herself and those she loves to safe harbor. 

Wdebo's Review: I received this book to review back in March of this year but with college and other books, I just never got around to reading it. I sort of forgot it on my bookshelf and let it collect dust. Also, apart from time restraints, the other reason I never thought about it was that I personally did not find the cover all that appealing and as most people know (and I'm sure most people are guilty of) I totally judge books by their covers and this cover just did not fulfill my superficial desires at all. On a whim, I picked it up again a couple of days ago and finished it that very same day. Everything about this story was just so wonderful and the only regret it gave me was that I did not read it sooner.

The writing was wonderful which makes it all the more surprising when you factor in the fact that this is Hummer's debut novel. It possessed a honest simplicity to it that made it very easy to get into and be lulled into a reading frenzy by its calming arms. Through her writing, Hummer was able to create a narrator who was both innocent in her age but mature in her insight, the things that she has witnessed and lived through. Though her grasp on love can at times be seen as childlike, there is a certain knowing quality about her. Even though she phrases her thoughts in a child-like manner her words possess a truth to them that not many people are able to understand even at much greater ages. Apron was a great narrator and I loved reading from her point of view. I loved to see her grow and mature and understanding her surroundings. I especially enjoyed seeing her growth in regards to Mike and Chad for though she grew up in an area that was not very hospitable to homosexuals so grew to truly love them and hold them as one of the most important friends she ever had. This work really allows you to understand the importance of friendship and love and how affection can come in all shapes and forms and from the most unlikely sources. However, though all love can be different, there is one unifying factor to it, that it will always be there for you, to hold you and carry you through the good and bad. And though you will laugh and cry together it will be the thing you hold most dear.

I also loved how Hummer presented the characters of Chad and Mike. I hold both of them and Apron very dear to me as I went through the story. Their relationship, which was presented with a bittersweet, heart-warming love, was also very magnificent and held tightly onto my heart.

The writing itself was very well done and was able to make me laugh one minute and cry the next. The whole story flowed together nicely and had very few sections in which I found it lagged or did not hold my attention  as much as I hoped for. This is one of the few novels which I could have given a 5 stars to it without even reading till the last page. The ending itself was also very well done, it did not disappoint. Once I finished the novel, I was left was a feeling of satisfication but also one in which I would not have minded if I could get another glimpse of the future. I would have liked to see what happens to all of the characters, but even if I was not given the opportunity, I would not have minded one bit because I know that they will be ok no matter where or how they live their lives. I also liked how the story did not end with perfect endings for everyone because the story had a realistic element to it and life just does not work perfectly like that with all of the loose strings being tied up together with neat bows.

Cafe Cover Chat: As stated above, I am definitely not a big fan of the cover, but I do love the blue and the imaginative sailboat/cloud. (B-)

All in all, a wonderful debut novel from Jennifer Gooch Hummer that everyone should pick it. I am sure I will be recommending to lots of people throughout next term. This work allows us to understand the importance of love and how it can come in all shapes and forms and be there to comfort us when we most need it.

Grade: A+

Wdebo :)

Tuesday's Taiwanese Superstar: Kimberley Chen

Whoa, I haven't done a TTS in about two years so let's see how this goes~ Haha.

Chinese Name: 陳芳語
English: Kimberley Chen
Birthday: May 23, 1994
Age: 18
Birthplace: Melbourne Australia
What She Does: Singer/Dancer

Background Info: Kimberley released her debut earlier this year (April 27, 2012) but her musical career has spanned for much longer than that.

Kimberley has been coached by many impressive people including her father, Maestro Vladamir Vais, Gordon Chambers, etc. She has been singing publicly since she was 4 and at the age of 11 she played the role of Young Nala in the Melbourne production of the Lion King and at 13 she also sang the National Anthem at the Australian Football League NAB Cup. She then moved to New York to study. In 2010, she also competed on the Taiwanese Singing Show and gained much Taiwanese recognition there. With her debut album, she released the song " 愛你 (Ai Ni)" [Love You] this April which has over 6 million hits which is one of the two songs of hers that are featured in the drama Fondant Garden.

I love this music video because it is sad/cute and the song is adorable. I also like how Xiao Jie from JPM is in here. Haha.



Other Songs You Should Check Out By Kimberley:

Star Trek (ft. Ailing Tai)
Satellite
Never Change

Wdebo :)