Krista:

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

 Characters

Mackenzie is our main character, having taken over the responsibilities of Keeper at the Archive after her grandfather’s passing.  Wesley is the funny side-kick living in the same apartment building and soon to be love interest as well. Owen, a lost History, wandering the halls of the Archive. He helps Mackenzie as she searches to solve the mystery behind why there were so many deaths in the new apartment building they have just moved into.

Favourite

Wesley- he is funny and adds balance to Mackenzie’s character who is going through a lot changes and learning a new job. Wesley adds the humour and caring.

Least Favourite

Patrick- he works in the Archives and is just a really rude character. He is mean, grumpy and shows no effort at all to make others feel welcome at work.

Beginning

With the recent loss of her brother,Ben,  Mackenzie’s job as a Keeper in The  Archive is harder than she imagined. She knows that visiting Ben is not healthy but she finds it comforting, as her parents decided it was best to get rid of all his possessions for them to heal. Mackenzie feels his History is the only way to remember him and keep him close to her.  When they move into a new apartment complex she is feeling bitter towards her parents and finds it a release when a job comes her way, so she can escape to the Archives.

Storyline

The pacing of the story really begins to pick up when she has a vision in her new room of the aftermath of a girl being murdered. Also the introduction of Wesley into the book coincides with larger amounts of Histories escaping, keeping her very busy. Here is the real beginning of the murder mystery and why so many people have died in the apartment complex.

Ending

Very action packed ending with everything coming to a head at the same time. Mackenzie proves how strong and selfless of a character she really is.

Thoughts

A very unique and enjoyable story. The only thing I felt missing was more of a connection with her parents. Thoroughly enjoyed the mixture of characters (especially Wesley) and the world building was amazing with beautifully descriptive writing.

Quote

“The Archive makes us monsters. And then it breaks the ones who get too strong, and buries the ones who know too much.”

“An omission is not the same thing as a lie, Miss Bishop. It’s a manipulation.”

Bel:

Cover

Tyler Nevins has done a beautiful job of this hauntingly accurate cover. It is simplistic and yet it speaks volumes, helping set up the world built by Schwab within the pages.

Characters

The main focus of almost all the characters is surviving. This can bring out the best and worst in us all.

Favourite

I have a feeling we’re all going to pick Wesley. He’s making the most of his life, and his ‘job’ as a keeper. Very cool, calm and collected. He has a neat stick too.

Least Favourite

Mac’s Mum. UGH!!! Can that woman be more insensitive?

Beginning

Mac has inherited her Grandfather’s ability to enter hidden places with the purpose of putting Histories (read dead people), back in their correct places within the archives.

Storyline

Mac and her folks move after the unthinkable happens and it’s up to Mac to control the influx of Histories escaping into the Narrows.

Ending

I’m pleased with how it ended. I did guess who was to blame, but seeing Victoria craft the story made the journey worth every minute of reading.

Thoughts

Overall, this is quite a different take on the “helping the dead cross over” scenario. It covered new ground, flew in from left field and blindsided me with it’s intriguing premise.

Quote

“Have you at least got tenants who look like they belong in a Hitchcock film?”

“Well, so far I’ve met a morbidly obese antiques hoarder and a boy who wears eyeliner.”

“They call that guyliner,” she says.

Conversation between Mac and her friend Lyndsey.

Lisa:

Cover

I usually know right away if I like a cover or not, but with The Archived I’m not sure how I feel. Even after reading the story and looking at the cover for months, I’m still unsure of what I think. Nothing bad sticks out, but nothing really stands out either. The cover does its job.

Characters

Overall, I found a lot of the characters in The Archived to be interesting. Mackenzie is a Keeper, Histories are souls of the dead, and Librarians are those who organize these histories.

Favorite

Bel guessed correct, Wesley would have to be my favourite character in this story. He just seems content with himself and being a Keeper; he’s sweet and happy. If I didn’t pick Wesley, I would have to go with Da, Mac’s grandpa. He is just old, interesting, wise and really cool.

Least Favorite

Uhh, this is an easy one, Mac’s parents. Both seem to be in their own little world, never realizing that something is going on with Mac, or never wondering where she spends her time.

Beginning

The reader learns everything about Mac’s history as to how and why she became a Keeper – inheritance through her grandpa. We also learn everything there is to know about the Archived, the Narrows, Keepers, Histories, and the Librarians. There’s a lot to learn!

Middle

Mac and her parents just moved into a new apartment, and Mac’s list of Histories seems to be growing longer and longer. She realizes she can influence the Histories when Mac gives one of them another day.

End

Just like Bel said, I really enjoyed the ending; Schwab’s writing was interesting and kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked the entire idea of the Archived and Keepers, and the way Histories are dealt with.

Overall

I do plan on reading the second book; I can’t wait to see what Victoria Schwab has in store!

Hardcover, 328 pages  Published January 22nd 2013 by Hyperion

In the mood for a period book with the pomp and ceremony of Pride and Prejudice, twists and turns of Sherlock Holmes, and the teen drama of Anne of Green Gables?

Imagine being summoned to London when you’ve always believed yourself to be adopted child, only to discover you have sisters and an aunt. And not only are they your sisters but 2 thirds of a set of triplets… yeah. Consider that your mind would be pretty much blown.

Now think that your adopted families are finding it difficult to get by in the 1920’s, and the reason you and your sisters have been called to London is to fight a half brother for the fortune that is rightfully, collectively, yours.

How amazing would that scenario be?

This is pretty much the wrap on The Heiresses. Cool, huh?

It is the full package.

I adore the vivid way Allison describes 1920’s London. She sets it up so well, I want take a Tardis and travel back in time. Fashions, lifestyle, and the way women are starting to fight for their rights.

Her characters are vastly different from one another. Their voices are strong and even though there is that sister I want to slap, she is still lovable in her fractured way.

Allison has nailed 1920’s Girl Power.

If you enjoyed the Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper, you’ll be swept up in the delight that is The Heiresses.  

My Nanna used to make these moorish nibbly (aka Nuts & Bolts) things up for us, and for as long as I can remember there was always a bowl of them sitting on the kitchen bench. Nan’s gone now, but we’ve all carried on making Nibbles in her memory. I’ve altered her recipe slightly by spicing things up a little, and using less oil. She fried them in a deep-sided electric frypan, while I prefer to bake them for health reasons.

What you need:

Large packet of Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain breakfast cereal

2 packets of French Onion dry soup mix

¾ cup of vegetable oil

1 packet of unsalted peanuts

1 packet of beer-nuts

1tsp curry powder

1tsp paprika

½ tsp chilli powder

**optional – mixed nuts and other spices of your choice, such as onion or garlic powder.

How it’s done:

In the largest mixing bowl you have, add the Nutri-Grain and nuts. Shake the soup mixes over the top, and mix through. In a separate jug, add the oil, curry powder, paprika. Stir to combine and then pour over Nutri-Grain/nut mix. Now, you need to get your hands a bit icky and work the oil mixture through, so that everything is coated as evenly as possible.

Line a couple of baking trays with baking paper, and spread the mixture thinly. Bake in a very slow oven (about 120 C) for an hour, turning every 15 minutes or so with an egg lift.

Cool, and store in an airtight container. 

Dan Wells introduces his readers to a world in complete shambles with only a small percent of humans left. Cities are wild and over grown, and the population is continuing to dwindle with no babies surviving more than three or four days.

Kira is interning at the hospital, hoping to somehow help this epidemic. She wants to find the reason why these babies aren’t surviving and to then find a cure. It’s only been a few weeks, and Kira has already witnessed more than enough babies and mothers go through this pain of losing another life. But when Kira’s best friend is pregnant, she knows she has to do something, anything, to save that baby, and fast.

The only thing Kira can think of, is to go out of the city limits, and capture a partial to do some testing. But will she actually be able to find one? People haven’t seen a Partial since the war ended over ten years ago. And how will she know what she is looking for?

Partials has one of the most interesting cast of characters I’ve ever encountered in a book. This world has been destroyed by war, leaving a small percent of humans as well as a population of Partials – robots that were created by humans over a decade ago to fight for them in wars.

Kira is the strong leading female character that I love and search for in almost every book I read lately. I enjoy having a kick butt girl taking the lead in such a completely dangerous and destroyed world. What pulled me in, and caused me to like Kira from the start, was her character’s strength. Dan Wells showed this to the readers within the first few pages, when she asked her boss at the hospital if it was okay for the mother to hold her dead baby. This might not seem like much to us, but in the world Kira lives in, babies die every single day, the people don’t waste time by letting the mother hold the baby.

Another character that stole my heart was Marcus, Kira’s boyfriend. Even though we don’t get to know him or see him too often throughout the story, we get to learn right away that he cares a lot for Kira and wants nothing but to be with her. He was such a sweet guy and sometimes throughout Partials I found myself wishing that Kira would give him more of her attention, that she would love  and care for him, just as much as he did for her.

Samm is another one of the main characters, but unlike Kira or Marcus, Samm is a Partial. He sees the world and the destruction from a different point of view. Unlike many other Partials, Samm seems to want peace between his own kind and humans. While I don’t dislike him, he is kind of dark and mysterious, and I don’t yet know what to think of him. Samm seems honest, and seems to want what Kira and her friends want; peace.

While Partials had many twists, turns and unexpected events happen throughout the story, I do have to say that the end result was a bit predictable. Many other things that happened along the way that boggled my mind, but the overall goal Kira and her team had, was accomplished, which I felt like I knew would happen. If I hadn’t already read Fragments, I would be fan-girling to all of you right now, about how excited I am to read it!

Overall the story, the entire idea of Partials, and the characters made the book for me and was what pushed me to read the next book Fragments. I do have to say the one thing that let me down about this book was the predictable ending. It didn’t bother me that much, but I did wish for more of an explosive kind of end to Partials.

Diana Pinguicha reviews Parks and Recreation!

“I have been developing the Swanson Pyramid of Greatness for years. It’s a perfectly calibrated recipe for maximum personal achievement. Categories include: Capitalism, God’s way of determining who is smart, and who is poor. Crying, acceptable at funerals and the Grand Canyon. Rage. Poise. Property rights. Fish, for sport only, not for meat. Fish meat is practically a vegetable.”

– from The Wisdom of Ron Swanson

It’s no secret I watch a ton of TV shows. True, the number has dwindled these last six months due to heavy coursework (I’ll get back to you someday on Pretty Little Liars and Vampire Diaries!), but some shows I just couldn’t give up. Parks and Recreation was one of them.

So… what’s Parks & Rec all about? The Parks department of Pawnee, Indiana, and all its employees – especially in the Deputy Director, Leslie Knope.

I started watching because I love Amy Poehler. She’s one of the best female role models out there (if you don’t believe me, go to youtube and search for Ask Amy) and she’s funny and sweet and overall, my second favorite Amy in the world (first one goes to former BB staff Amy Parker, of course).

At first, I wasn’t very impressed with the show. The first season is sort of lackluster and Leslie seems sort of a dummy. However, it’s only six episodes long and the supporting cast more than makes up for the still-developing Leslie. I mean… Ron Swanson (played flawlessly by Nick Offerman) is a jewel in terms of smart writing and perfect delivery.

After season one, I was hooked. Season two is funny and Leslie is now more empowered and smart and you’ll wish all government workers were like her. Ron’s even more stoically aggressive – he seriously has some of the best quotes and gifs out there – and he balances Leslie optimism perfectly. April grows beyond her deadpan face and overall “I don’t care about anything” attitude. Andy is still a goofball, but he’s so sweet and you can’t help but root for him. Donna and Jerry – they become more important as the seasons go by – are also excellent cast members. Donna because she completely owns everything and Jerry because, well… he’s always the butt of the joke. Then, we have Ann, Leslie’s best friend and, in Leslie’s words, “beautiful nurse”, who also brings Leslie to be more down-to-earth and Tom, a complete metrosexual with crazy entrepreneurism spirit.

At the end of season 2, one of my favorite characters is introduced: Ben Wyatt, who’s a complete geek but dedicated government worker. And Chris, the ever-optimistic, always-exercising, “I’m going to live to a 150” Chris.

From there on out, Parks & Rec is perfect. From Ron’s anti-government attitudes and ex-wives (both named Tammy, and Tammy 2 is played brilliantly by Megan Mullally, Nick Offerman’s wife in real life), the blossoming relationships between April and Andy and Leslie and Ben (not a spoiler, really… you’ll see that one coming from miles away) and the struggle of someone who cares about her town, see every step she takes to better it constantly made difficult by a very stupid population.

In short, Parks and Recreation is one of the best comedies on TV and hands down and one of the best satires on American Government. If you’re like me, you’ll be in love with it fast and gobble down all episodes like the government gobbles up tax-payers’ money. And remember:

Why do I want to build this park so bad? Maybe because a pit filled with garbage isn’t the best that we can do in America. You know, in Russia they could pretend that pit was a park. Bring their kids down there,’Hey Vlad, uh, look at these rocks. Let’s pretend they’re potatoes. Nikolai, do you want to swim in the dirt?’ but not here. Okay? Cause we’re a nation of dreamers and it is my dream to build a park that I one day visit with my White House staff on my birthday. And they say, ‘President Knope, this park is awesome. Now we understand why you are the first female President of the United States.

— Leslie Knope, on why she wants to build a park on an abandoned lot behind Ann’s house