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Showing posts from August, 2017

Goldene Zeiten

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Goldene Zeiten  von Daniel G. Spieker Zusammenfassung: Ein Mann kommt zum Arzt und leidet anscheinend an einer unbekannten Krankheit: Sein Körper wird langsam zu Gold. Rezension: Hat  sie tatsächlich Angst, dass ich ihr fremdgehe oder sucht sie nur nach einem Grund, um die Beziehung zu beenden. Mal schauen, wer zuerst einen findet. Zunächst  sollte ich wohl mit meiner Standard-Anmerkung beginnen: Ich habe nicht nur ein Rezensionsexemplar von diesem Buch vom Autor bekommen, besagter Autor ist auch ein Freund von mir. Ich werde trotzdem so ehrlich wie möglich sein. Gut , da das also erledigt wäre habe ich zwei Dinge zu sagen: 1. Goldene Zeiten  hat mir um einiges besser gefallen als Ein gutes Leben   2. zwischendurch hat mich die Geschichte ernsthaft genervt. Ich fange direkt mit dem schmerzhaften an, einfach um das hinter mich zu bringen: Die "Wissenschaft". Urgh, jedes Mal, wenn mir Logikfehler auffallen, brennen sie sich mir so richtig böse

Anna and the French Kiss

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Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins Blurb: Anna  is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's not too pleased when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year. But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new friends, including the handsome Étienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken--and Anna might be too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's been waiting for? Review: I  distract him with a story about the time I broke my arm playing Peter Pan. It turned out there was more to flying than thinking happy thoughts and jumping out a window.  Lately , I've been feeling like I haven't read enough cute, cheesy, lighthearted, and ultimately fun (romance) books this summer. At least not enough I've enjoyed -

The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes #9)

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The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes  (Sherlock Holmes #9) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Blurb: In  this, the final collection of Sherlock Holmes adventures, the intrepid detective and his faithful companion Dr Watson examine and solve twelve cases that puzzle clients, baffle the police and provide readers with the thrill of the chase. Review: " No , no, you are joking, Holmes!" "Even my limited sense of humour could evolve a better joke than that." That's  it? Wow, I'm kind of, weirdly, surprised. It feels like these could go on but, nope, there's no more. Luckily, after I read His Last Bow  I learnt that I shouldn't read all of the stories in one bulk so this time around I read the stories in-between other books/junks of books which worked out so much better. I felt really engaged and the stories were able to fascinate me properly.  " That  process," said I, "starts upon the supposition that when you have elimin

The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials #3)

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The Amber Spyglass (His Dark Materials #3) by Philip Pullman Blurb: Will  is the bearer of the knife. Now, accompanied by angels, his task is to deliver that powerful, dangerous weapon to Lord Asriel - by the command of his dying father. But how can he go looking for Lord Asriel when Lyra is gone? Only with her help can he fathom the myriad plots and and intrigues that beset him. The two great powers of the many worlds are lining up for war, and Will must find Lyra, for together they are on their way to battle, an inevitable journey that will even take them to the world of the dead... Review: " And  I came to believe that good and evil are names for what people do, not for what they are. All we can say is that this is a good deed, because it helps someone, or that's an evil one, because it hurts them. People are too complicated to have simple labels." I  have to admit that I mainly read this book to complete the trilogy and not for any other reaso

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)

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City of Bones  (The Mortal Instruments #1) by Cassandra Clare Blurb: When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder― much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing―not even a smear of blood―to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy? This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mothe

Cracked Up to Be

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Cracked Up to Be  by Courtney Summers Blurb: When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace? Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her conselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all. Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth. Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault. Review: Jake and Chris talk through art and discover they have so much in common it's amazing. Like. They Could Be Boyfriends

Ella, The Slayer

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Ella, The Slayer  (Serenity House #1) by A. W. Exley Blurb: Seventeen-year-old  Ella copes the best she can; caring for her war-injured father, scrubbing the floors, and slaying the undead that attack the locals. Vermin they're called, like rats they spread pestilence with their bite. Ella's world collides with another when she nearly decapitates a handsome stranger, who is very much alive. Seth deMage, the new Duke of Leithfield, has returned to his ancestral home with a mission from the War Office -- to control the plague of vermin in rural Somerset. He needs help; he just didn't expect to find it in a katana-wielding scullery maid. Working alongside Seth blurs the line between their positions, and Ella glimpses a future she never dreamed was possible. But in overstepping society's boundaries, Ella could lose everything - home, head and her heart... Review: " You  shouldn't be out in the woods alone. There are undead about, but I suspect

His Last Bow (Sherlock Holmes #8)

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His Last Bow  (Sherlock Holmes #8) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Blurb: Sherlock  Holmes's fearless chronicler Dr. Watson once again opens his notebooks to bring to light eight further tales of some of the strangest and most fascinating cases to come before the enquiring mind of London's most famous detective. Review: Our official detectives may blunder in the matter of intelligence, but never in that of courage. I  might be seriously burning through my Sherlock-Holmes-interest. I just can't seem to hold that much interest for his stories anymore, even if there are a couple of great character-moments. I thought I could counteract this effect by reading more books in-between the Sherlock Holmes instalments but it hasn't worked so far. Honestly, after reading so much Doyle recently there just isn't that much left to say for me I haven't already mentioned. "I  should prefer that you do not mention my name at all in connection with the c

Since You've Been Gone

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Since You've Been Gone  by Morgan Matson Blurb: It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just … disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back? Apple picking at night ? Okay, easy enough. Dance until dawn ? Sure. Why not? Kiss a stranger ? Um... Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she’ll find? Go skinny-dipping ? Wait...what? Review: " I  have never seen anyone look so suspicious," Frank said, shaking his head. "Ever. I figured I should probably stay close, just in case." Can I just declare this book as "most obtrusive earworm-creator ever"? Because I've definitely been spen

The Walls Around Us

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The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma Blurb: On the outside, there's Violet, an eigtheen-year-old dancer days away from the life of her dreams when something threatens to expose the shocking truth of her achievement. On the inside, within the walls of the Aurora Hills juvenile detention center, there’s Amber, locked up for so long she can’t imagine freedom. Tying their two worlds together is Orianna, who holds the key to unlocking all the girls’ darkest mysteries . . . Review: We  were gasoline rushing for a lit match. We were bared teeth. Balled fists. A stampede of slick feet. We went wild, like anyone would. We lost our fool heads. There  is something uniquely disturbing about this book. I just couldn't wrap my head around the concept and I ended up constantly questioning whom to believe, whom to trust, whom to like, whom to forgive. Don't get me wrong: it was a great experience, brilliantly written, but it was also terrifying in a way I have

The Valley of Fear (Sherlock Holmes #7)

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The Valley of Fear (Sherlock Holmes #7) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Blurb: The  deadly hand of Professor Moriarty once more reaches out to commit a vile and ingenious crime, but a mole in Moriarty's criminal organization alerts Sherlock Holmes of the evil deed by means of a cipher . . . When Holmes and Watson arrive at a Sussex manor house they appear to be too late. The discovery of a body suggests that Moriarty's henchmen have been at their work. But there is much more to this tale of murder than at first meets the eye. Review: Holmes  smiled. He was always warmed by genuine admiration – the characteristic of the real artist. Once I realized that this one would be a Moriarty-story my excitement-levels cranked up to … well, I don't know exactly to what but it was a lot! Sadly, while The Valley of Fear  was an interesting case it wasn't what I had hoped for, it felt more like a set-up than a case of it's own, especially because the second p

Fly on the Wall

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Fly on the Wall  by E. Lockhart Blurb: At  the Manhattan School of Art and Music, where everyone is unique and everyone is 'different', Gretchen Yee feels ordinary. It doesn't help that she's known as the girl who sits alone at lunch, drawing pictures of her favourite superhero, just so she won't have to talk to anyone. Her best (and only real) friend is there for her, but that's only if she's not busy - she's always busy! It's no surprise that Gretchen isn't exactly successful in the boy department. Her ex-boyfriend is a cold-fish-sometimes-flirty ex who she can't stop bumping into. Plus, she has a massive crush on a boy named, Titus but is too scared to make the first move. One minute he seems like a sensitive guy, the next, he's a completely different person when he's with his friends. She can't seem to figure boys out!  Gretchen has one wish: to be a fly on the wall in the boy's locker room. What are boys rea

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls #2)

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Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy (Gallagher Girls #2) by Ally Carter Blurb: Cammie  Morgan may have a genius IQ and attend the best school in the country, but as she starts the spring semester of her sophomore year there are a lot of things she doesn't know. Like will her ex-boyfriend even remember she exists? And how much trouble did she really get in last semester? And, most of all, exactly why is her mother acting so strangely? All Cammie wants is a nice, normal semester, but she's about to learn her greatest lesson yet—that when you go to a school for spies, nothing is ever as it seems. Review: “ And you utilised your training to develop a relationship with The Subject?” “Gee, when you say it like that—” “Yes or no, Ms—” “Yes!” Which, I would like to point out, is not nearly as bad as it sounds since, for example, you don’t need a search warrant to go through someone’s rubbish. Seriously. Once it hits the kerb it is totally fair game – you can

The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes #5)

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The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes #5) by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Blurb: Holmes  and Watson are faced with their most terrifying case yet. The legend of the devil-beast that haunts the moors around the Baskerville family's home warns the descendants of that ancient clan never to venture out in those dark hours when the power of evil is exalted. Now, the most recent Baskerville, Sir Charles, is dead and the footprints of a giant hound have been found near his body. Will the new heir meet the same fate? Review: “ Do you not find it interesting?” “To a collector of fairy tales.” The  difference between the Sherlock Holmes short stories and this longer tale, for me, really comes down to one aspect: I had no idea whom to suspect. In all of the short stories I'm rather quick in coming to a conclusion (sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm not but that's beside the point) but in this story I was completely in the dark, which is really in

Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)

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Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) by Sarah J. Maas Zusammenfassung: Celaena  hat tödliche Wettkämpfe überlebt, ihr wurde das Herz gebrochen, sie hat sich den Schatten ihrer Vergangenheit gestellt und es überstanden. Jetzt kehrt sie zurück nach Adarlan. Aber nicht mehr als Celaena Sardothien, sondern als Aelin Galathynius, Königin von Terrasen. Doch bevor sie ihren Thron besteigen kann, muss sie noch offene Rechnungen begleichen. Da ist zum einen ihr alter Meister, der sie verraten und dem Tod überlassen hat. Und der König von Adarlan, der in seinem grenzenlosen Machthunger die Magie verbannt, ihre Eltern getötet und den ganzen Kontinent unterworfen hat. Eine Aufgabe, würdig einer Kämpferin, würdig einer dunklen Königin ... Rezension: She  supposed that after facing skinwalker, after escaping ancient creatures of size of small cottages, and after incinerating four demon princes, twenty men in pursuit wasn't all that horrific. But still a giant raging pain i