Teaser: Playing with Reality

Some of you may know of my Immorality of Immortality Trilogy.
Book One: Playing with Reality
Book Two: Gambling a Fairytale
Book Three: Chancing the Truth (coming 2014 . . .)

The whole thing started off when I decided I wanted to create my own vampires.  There were bits and pieces of the various vampire legends and stories that I didn't quite agree with.  So I made my own stuff up, with the help of a brand new vampire Felix Hesper who was learning piece by piece what it meant to be a vampire.

Felix's story was not that simple or that small.  Felix's story was so intense it took up three books, around 1,100 pages and 2 years 9 months of my life.  The story is so close to my heart that I still can't get over it.  I want to rewrite book one at some point in the next five years or so because I think I could do it better.

But I want to know what you guys think.

You can check out Playing with Reality in various ways:

Paperback:http://amzn.to/121GV22

Kindle: http://amzn.to/15mfspQ

Teaser chapters on Movellas: http://www.movellas.com/story/201403261750165276-playing-with-reality

Please read at least the teaser chapters and drop me a comment on Movellas.  Don't forget to like and favourite too.

Like the Immorality of Immortality Trilogy on facebook:  http://on.fb.me/1cpMwEc

Visit the website:  http://theimmoralityofimmortalitytrilogy.yolasite.com/

Tweet me: @MollyLooby

Email me:  molly.looby@hotmail.com


It's about time I made this as easy as possible for you.


Molly Looby

Author / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA Ready

molly.looby@hotmail.com

The Book Thief - Markus Zusak

A Spoiler Free Bit About The Book

There's no other way to describe this story than with the true blurb:

HERE IS A SMALL FACT

YOU ARE GOING TO DIE

1939.  Nazi Germany.  The country is holding its breath.

Death has never been busier.

Liesel, a nine-year-old girl, is living with a foster family on Himmel Street.  Her parents have been taken away to a concentration camp.  Liesel steals books.  This is her story and the story of the inhabitants of her street when the bombs begin to fall.

SOME IMPORTANT INFORMATION

THIS NOVEL IS NARRATED BY DEATH

It's a small story, about:
a girl
an accordionist
some fanatical Germans
a Jewish istfighter
and quite a lot of thievery.

ANOTHER THING YOU SHOULD KNOW

DEATH WILL VISIT THE BOOK THIEF THREE TIMES

My Review

What can I say?  This book is a masterpiece.  A stroke of genius.  A pleasure to read.  Some might say it's a hard read and not one to pick up if you don't have a lot of time.  It seems to be the opinion that you have to put a lot into this book to get what you want out of it.  I disagree.  I found it so easy to fall into Nazi Germany that I finished the book within the week even though it's 550 pages long.  I've never read anything quite like this.  It was intriguing.

The first thing I loved about the book was what I ended up loving most.  The narrator, Death himself.  He tells you Liesel's story from the most unique perspective I've ever come across.  Both retrospective and omniscient but with personality and emotion.  Death seemed so soft and warm as a character, even though that seems peculiar to write.  I laughed a few times at his narration when he jumped in to add something he thought we should know.  I loved how aware our narrator was of us readers.  I was being told a story from beginning to end.  The little facts and observations Death adds in as we go along made this book what it is.  I think that was one of the reasons I loved The Book Thief so much.  It's almost like Death's personal scrapbook on Liesel Meminger, the book thief he's so fond of.

The only point that I see this as being a problem for the reader is when the pages of Max's book are almost too small to read.  The illustrations are fine but the writing is tiny.  That was a stupid decision made by whoever was in charge of that part of the book.  I had to really try to read Max's words which was disappointing seeing as he's such a huge character in the book.  I was so excited that I got to read his words but my heart dropped when I saw the size of them.  Other than this, all the interruptions are perfect.  I don't care what some people think.  It's not distracting or a waste of time.  It shows personality and adds to this book like diamonds add to a bracelet.

The reason I don't think this book is hard to read is because the paragraphs are so short.  It was so easy to pick up and so impossible to put down.  It was separated into ten parts, each part named after a stolen book.  I quickly got into the habit of reading at least one part a day until I got to the end and read about four in one go.

History was beautifully interweaved in this story.  The Book Thief was both all about history and yet not.  I loved that about it too.  I can't deal with heavy historical fiction, regardless of how much I love history.  History was both the most important factor in The Book Thief and again not.  It was expertly crafted by Zusak and I'm in total awe.

I only have one sort of criticism when it comes to characters.  And that is: there were so many I got confused.  The minor characters that made up Himmel Street got combined in my head and I couldn't remember Frau What's-Her-Face to Frau Oh-You-Again.  It didn't help that they were Herr or Frau (Mr or Mrs) Whatever because the surnames were all German, again, making it hard for me to remember, not knowing anything about German names myself.  It just made it difficult for me to distinguish between one character and another.  I think I got my head around it eventually.  I'm not sure it mattered though.  I understand a sense of community was the most important thing and I certainly felt that.

As for the major characters, well . . . anyone who has read this book must've fallen in love with them as I did.  They were all flawed and believable.  I hated them and loved them as I do my own friends and family.  Especially Rudy, Max, Mama/Rosa and Papa/Hans. 

I was extremely glad that I had a box of tissues next to me when I finished the book.  I knew how it was going to end - Death tells you at the beginning - but that didn't make it any less heartbreaking.  Instead of boring me because I knew how it was going to turn out, it only added to the dread of the event.  Again, genius. 

This was one of those books that when I put it down I got this bitter-sweet feeling in my heart because I'd never have the pleasure of reading it for the first time ever again.  But it read like one of those books that will never get old, even if you read it a hundred times.

Evaluation

Plot - 8/10 - I see where people are coming from when they say there wasn't much of one, but in my opinion they aren't looking deep enough

Way Plot Was Pursued - 10/10 - Death's interventions made this book amazing

Characters - 8/10 - a lot of confusion but a lot of love

Style - 10/10 - loved the way the book was set out and written, can't fault it

Pace - 8/10 - read it fast but it was slow in some places


Would I recommend it? Yes - It was sold to me as a YA book but it could just as easily be for adults

Would I look up the author? Yes - I'm very curious about Zusak's other novels.


The Book Thief was incredible.  It blew me away.

Molly Looby

Author / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA Ready

molly.looby@hotmail.com

Happy International Women's Day!

In the style of my World Book Day blog, here's another list.

This time here's a list of strong female characters to be proud of.

1. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games Trilogy)
2. Matilda Wormwood (Roald Dahl)
3. Diana Ladris (GONE Series)
4. Brianna "The Breeze" (GONE Series)
5. Lana "The Healer" Arwen Lazar (GONE Series)
6. Dekka Talent (GONE Series)
7. Evening Spiker  (Eve and Adam)
8. Hazel Grace Lancaster (The Fault In Our Stars)
9. Clara Gardner (Unearthly Trilogy)
10. Julie (Warm Bodies)
11. Viola Eade (Chaos Walking Trilogy)
12. Regine (More Than This)
13. Lena Holloway (Delirium Trilogy)
14. Lyra Belacqua (His Dark Materials)
15. Tris Prior (Divergent Trilogy)
16. Christina (Divergent Trilogy)
17. Tori (Divergent Trilogy)
18. Natalie Prior (Divergent Trilogy)
19. Hermoine Granger (Harry Potter Series)
20. Ginny Weasley (Harry Potter Series)
21. Luna Lovegood (Harry Potter Series)
22. Minerva McGonagall (Harry Potter Series)
23. Molly Weasley (Harry Potter Series)
24. Mary (Forest of Hands and Teeth)
25. Annah (The Dark and Hollow Places)
26. Stargirl (Stargirl)
27. Saba (Dustlands Trilogy)
28. Epona (Dustlands Trilogy)
29. Emmi (Dustlands Trilogy)
30. Molly (Dustlands Trilogy)

I've got some pretty strong female characters in my books too.  Didn't want to miss them out!

The Immorality of Immortality Trilogy:

1. Libby Fayton
2. Clove Vyron
3. Connie Hunter
4. Josie-Anne Fairfax
5. Athene Rosalina
6. Viola Summers
7. And to list this last one would be a huge Chancing the Truth Spoiler!

ZA:

1. Gemma Stuart
2. Jen Carlisle 

I Dare You:

1. Leanne Anderson

My Yet Unnamed Werewolf Book (Although I've got a pretty good idea for a title now):

1. Lou Parris
2. Cami Roxen

Just A Pair Of Abominations:

1. Ash Sauna
2. Ember Burn

Oh and I thought you'd like to know there's a least one awesome female in my next book too!  She is incredible.

We rock, plain and simple.

Molly Looby

Author / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA Ready

molly.looby@hotmail.com

World Book Day!

Happy World Book Day everyone!

In celebration, here area list of 40 awesome books/series from my shelf! 

(If you're wondering they're ordered alphabetically by author)

1. P.S. I Love You - Cecelia Ahern
2. If You Could See Me Now - Cecelia Ahern
3. Where Rainbows End - Cecelia Ahern
4. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
5. Wuthering Heights - Emily Brote
6. The Morganville Vampire Series - Rachel Caine
7. The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories - Angela Carter
8. Entangled - Cat Clarke
9. The Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins
10. Matched Trilogy - Ally Condie
11. Matilda - Roald Dahl
12. Before I Die - Jenny Downham
13. You Against Me - Jenny Downham
14. Hush, Hush Series - Becca Fitzpatrick
15. If I Stay - Gayle Forman
16. Once/Then/Now/After - Morris Gleitzman
17. GONE Seires - Michael Grant
18. BZRK - Michael Grant
19. Eve and Adam - Michael Grant and Katherine Applegate
20. The Fault In Our Stars - John Green
21. Unearthly Trilogy - Cynthia Hand
22. Diary of  a Wimpy Kid Series - Jeff Kinney
23. Life On The Refrigerator Door - Alice Kuipers
24. Monument 14 - Emmy Laybourne
25. Warm Bodies - Isaac Marion
26. Undead - Kirsty McKay
27. Twilight Saga - Stephenie Meyer
28. Chaos Walking Trilogy - Patrick Ness
29. More Than This - Patrick Ness
30. The Immortals Series - Alyson Noel
31. Delirium Trilogy - Lauren Oliver
32. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
33. Divergent Trilogy - Veronica Roth
34. Harry Potter Series - J.K Rowling
35. The Forest of Hands and Teeth Trilogy - Carrie Ryan
36. We Need To Talk About Kevin - Lionel Shriver
37. Stargirl - Jerry Spinelli
38. The Wolves of Mercy Falls Trilogy - Maggie Stiefvater
39. I Am Not A Serial Killer Trilogy - Dan Wells
40. Dustlands Trilogy - Moira Young

Boundless - Cynthia Hand

This is the final book in the trilogy so don't spoil books one and two for yourself.  I would read them if I were you.  'Unearthly' and 'Hallowed' are amazing.

A Spoiler Free Bit About The Book

Clara and Christian are of to Stanford with Angela to accompany her on her journey to her purpose.  But Clara has bigger problems, like the Black Wing that keeps showing up.  With the help of Christian, Clara sets out to find her brother, help Angela in her purpose and work out her own destiny.  But can she learn to live with the fact that she'll never have a future with the thing she wants most - Tucker?

My Review

I think this will be a rather short review because I don't have anything to say that I haven't said before.  Like 'Unearthly' and 'Hallowed' before it, 'Boundless' blew me away with how much I enjoyed it.  I fell straight back in effortlessly even though it'd been six months since I read 'Hallowed'.   I remembered who everyone was without much prompting at all, it was amazing!

I am so pleased that at last there's a final in a trilogy that hasn't dissapointed me in some way or another.  'Boundless' delivered everything I wanted and more.  I cannot believe that Cynthia Hand doesn't have more fans!  She's awesome!

The plot took turns I was expecting and needed and also took me places I'd never even thought I'd go and that was a gift.  It was the perfect mix of surprise and acceptance as I strolled around the world with Clara and Christian.

While I'm on Christian and Clara, I must say how much I loved them.  They were perfect.  Faulted and real.  And Clara's wit was just right.  She made jokes that I would make, unlike other books where the characters are just too unbelievably funny.  I loved how these angel-bloods felt human.

And there's not much else to say.  I loved it all the way through.  I couldn't put it down and I cried.  What else can you ask from a reader?

Evaluation

Plot - 9/10 - I knew it had to be good

Way Plot Was Pursued - 9/10 - took turns I didn't expect

Characters - 10/10 - perfect as before

Style - 10/10 - I could read it again, the style is so easy to get into

Pace - 9/10 - just right

Would I recommend it? -  Yes, all three were excellent reads

Would I look up the author? - Yes, and I will

'Boundless' was everything I wanted and needed and more from the finale in the trilogy.

Molly Looby

Author / Editor / Blogger / Reviewer / Wrimo / Movellian / ZA Ready

molly.looby@hotmail.com