Review: The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own by Nina Garcia, Ruben Toledo (Illustrator)

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS.COM:

From "Project Runway's" Garcia comes a companion edition to the wildly popular "The Little Black Book of Style. The One Hundred" is a thoroughly researched list of the classic items every woman must own, from fashion and garments to lipsticks and perfumes. Full-color illustrations throughout.

MY TAKE:

I'm not a big fashion follower but I'm trying to be a little more into it, since I'm in mid-20s already. :P

The One Hundred: A Guide to the Pieces Every Stylish Woman Must Own is the perfect book for girls like me who are trying to build their fashion collection/closet. Some of these things are stuff I already own, such as a bikini; stuff I want to own, like aviators; and stuff that aren't practical for me to own since I'm from a tropical country.

What sets this apart from other fashion books are the gorgeous illustrations and Nina Garcia's sense of humor and writing style. The drawings remind me of a chic greeting card. Nina's writing is exactly what you would expect from someone who spent years in the fashion industry. It's mostly straight up informative but every now and then, a funny and witty statement will sneak up on you.

THE GOOD:

1. Informative tidbits peppered throughout the book.
2. Pretty illustrations.
3. It's not boring.

THE BAD:

1. The clothes aren't all practical for everyone.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"How many pairs of shoes do you need?"

MEN

READ IT IF:

1. You are a fashionista.
2. You want to stock up on fashion essentials.
3. You are a Nina Garcia fan.

RATING:


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Review: Magical Monty by Johanna Hurwitz

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

First grade is almost over, and Monty will soon be seven. He's now a big brother, too, which makes him feel very grown-up. But when he tries to use the magic set his grandmother gave him, he has a little trouble. Maybe the card trick would work if he were eight years old? Mother's Day is coming, and Monty wishes he had something better to give his mom than the picture frame he made out of ice cream sticks at school. But how is he supposed to guess from the TV call-in ad how much flowers cost, or that you need a special card to get them? Whether involving his baby sister in his library project, losing a sneaker while marching with his karate class in the parade, or learning that an exciting afternoon isn't always a good thing, Monty's familiar adventures embody the gentle humor of everyday life.

MY TAKE:

Magical Monty is a cute story about the life of young Monty.

Each chapter is like a mini story, but the connecting thread of the stories is Mandy, Monty's little sister, and Monty's interest in magic.

Monty is a charming kid. He's only 7 years old but he acts wise beyond his years. This would be a great book for young kids to read on their own, rather than for their parents to read to them. After all, the book is about Monty being able to do things for himself without the help of his parents.

Thanks to NetGalley and Candlewick Press for the e-ARC. Publication date of Magical Monty is April 10, 2012.

THE GOOD:

1. Nice stand-alone chapters.
2. Promotes good values.
3. Pleasant characters and manner of writing.

THE BAD:

1. It could have had more chapters.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"I like being big enough to be a big brother," he said softly.

READ IT IF:

1. You have a child that likes magic.
2. You have just added a new baby to your family.
3. You want a book that you can read in parts over several nights.

RATING:

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Review: Ghostbusters Volume 1 by Tristan Jones

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Are you troubled by strange noises in the middle of the night?

Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic?

Have you or any of your family ever seen a spook, specter, or ghost?

If the answer is yes, call the professionals!

Psychokinetic energy is on the rise again, business is booming for the boys, and Ray is troubled by what could be a prophetic dream. Is this an ill omen of an upcoming apocaplypse, or just a little indigestion?

MY TAKE:

If there's something strange in your neighborhood, who you gonna call? Well, the answer is pretty obvious if you grew up in the '80s and '90s.

For those who are too young to remember, the Ghostbusters are Peter Venkman, Egon Spengler, Winston Zeddemore and Raymond Stanz, and their name is pretty self-explanatory.

In Ghostbusters Volume 1, paranormal activity is up and things are going great for the Ghostbusters. I'm not quite sure where this story fits on the GB timeline, but I think it may be near the start,, because there's a special appearance from a character whom GB fans are sure to recognize.

I liked that this comic book was able to sufficiently develop two story lines in the span of one comic book. This series definitely has a lot of potential.

Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the e-ARC. Publication date of Ghostbusters Volume 1 is on March 20, 2012.

THE GOOD:

1. Plot is true to the spirit of the series.
2. Illustrations are above par.
3. Nostalgia!

THE BAD:

1. Some may not like the slight change in the characters' looks.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

READ IT IF:

1. You're a fan of the Ghostbusters.
2. You like supernatural/paranormal comic books.
3. You miss the '80s.

RATING:



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Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

That being said, when shopping for the bikini, always keep in mind that the mirrors in the dressing rooms are always wrong and the lighting is always off.

Review: Michael Recycle and the Tree Top Cops by Ellie Patterson and Alexandra Colombo

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Even super-heroes need a vacation, so where better than one of the world’s natural wonders, the great Redwood Forest!

But disaster has struck and the forest is under threat... can Michael Recycle and his new friends, the Tree Top Cops, save the day?

MY TAKE:

Deforestation is a very serious issue. If you agree or you want to introduce your kids to the concept, Michael Recycle and the Tree Top Cops is a good beginner book.

Michael Recycle is a kid who wants to save the world "from man-made destruction". In this book, he's protecting the world, or at least the Great Redwood Forest, from deforestation.

The book uses rhymes and gorgeous illustrations to impart its lesson. There are some big words, like "ponder", which younger kids might not understand, so this is the perfect opportunity to help them expand their vocabulary

Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the e-ARC. Publication date of Michael Recycle and the Tree Top Cops is on March 20, 2012.

THE GOOD:

1. Pretty illustrations with beautiful coloring and perspective.
   
2. Pro-environment story line.
3. Fun rhymes and imagery.

THE BAD:

1. Resolution is quick.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

There were restaurants and shops

and doctors and schools,

and everyone lived

by the recycling rules.

READ IT IF:

1. You want to read a fun, pro-environment book.
2. You're looking for a beautifully illustrated children's book.
3. You like poetry books.

RATING:



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Review: Secrets of My Hollywood Life (Secrets of My Hollywood Life #1) by Jen Calonita

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS.COM:

Juicy Hollywood secrets are revealed throughout this novel about a young star, Kaitlin Burke, who goes undercover to high school. Could it be that high school is just as harsh as Hollywood?

MY TAKE:

Even though the plot is different, every now and then, while I was reading this, I kept thinking about Maria Slater from Sweet Valley.

Kaitlin is a Hollywood starlet who stars in a popular soap opera. As it happens in a lot of these kinds of books, Kaitlin wants to get away from the pressures of Hollywood and enrols in a normal high school.

It's cliche, in parts, but what makes this book extra special are the Hollywood secrets that pepper the book. You can easily imagine that this is a real Hollywood actress telling her story.

THE GOOD:

1. It's a rollicking good read.
2. Hollywood teenager-style.
3. Great supporting characters.

THE BAD:

1. It's cliche sometimes.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

HOLLYWOOD SECRET NUMBER TWELVE: A star’s home is never as fabulous as it appears in the pages of a magazine.

READ IT IF:

1. You dream of making it big in Hollywood.
2. You are fascinated with Hollywood celebrities.
3. You're looking for a light read.

RATING:


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Review: Party Girl by Anna David

SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS.COM:

Celebrity journalist Amelia Stone is the quintessential L.A. party girl. She goes to Hollywood's most exclusive, star-studded events, where she rubs shoulders (and occasionally more) with celebrities, stays out until all hours of the night, and indulges in the ultimate sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll existence. In short, she's got everything a party girl needs: the looks, the job, the lifestyle. And oh, yes, the out-of-control coke habit.

But it's hard to keep topping your own outrageous exploits, and after losing her job, her friends, and much of her mind (not to mention waking up in the hospital after combining five Ambien, four lines of Special K, and an inestimable amount of cocaine), Amelia makes the drastic decision to end her drug abuse. Sobriety, she finds, has its rewards: she starts seeing the man who could be her Mr. Right "and" gets hired by a big-name magazine to write a column detailing her wild adventures with the celebrity party crowd. And who could write it better? After all, she has plenty of experience to draw on.

There's just one little problem. Overnight, Amelia Stone has become the new face of Hollywood nightlife, and her editors--who don't know she's come clean--want her to play the part. As her popularity skyrockets and the film and TV agents start calling, the lure of her former fast-and-furious lifestyle begins to pull at her. Faced with the most exciting opportunity of her career, she must now decide to either save herself--or salvage her reputation as the ultimate party girl.

Acidly hilarious and achingly honest, "Party Girl" is a harrowing ride through the world of Hollywood excess with a heroine who's deliciously flawed. Whether snorting cokeor crying in rehab, hooking up or breaking down, Amelia Stone makes her way across the treacherous grounds of addiction, self-destruction, and recovery without ever losing her sharp wit, unapologetic candor, or odds-defying optimism.

MY TAKE:

I'm not a junkie or a party girl but this book definitely sounded interesting.

Party Girl tells the story of Amelia Stone. She's a celebrity journalist, party girl and cocaine addict. It's the stuff of tabloids and it's just as juicy.

Amelia Stone is the cocaine-addicted version of Carrie Bradshaw, minus Charlotte, Miranda and Samantha, of course. Although, Amelia does have three friends who see limited screen time.

This book is fascinating not only because of Amelia's party girl antics, but also for the very realistic portrayal of her addiction and recovery. Her voice is also so genuine and you can tell that the author is speaking from experience and not just research.

THE GOOD:

1. You see the underbelly of L.A.
2. The portrayal of drug addiction is very realistic.
3. It's a fun but dark read.

THE BAD:

1. Amelia gets a little bit annoying sometimes.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

The entirety of my knowledge about modeling has been culled from America’s Next Top Model, but one thing I’m positive of is that I love having my picture taken.

READ IT IF:

1. You like Hollywood.
2. You're a party girl.
3. You're looking for a realistic but not depressing look at drug addiction.

RATING:


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