Take a photo of a barcode or cover
callme_tippy's reviews
185 reviews
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
5.0
After all these years this is still one of my favorite books. I read this back in high school when fantasy and sci-fi were heavily featured in my reading and I still love it to this day. I loved the adventure this took me on.
I Believe in a Thing Called Love by Maurene Goo
2.0
I have read many YA books and they usually follow a couple of familiar formulas and even though they are predicable they are fun and entertaining. Sadly, the same can not be said about this book.
This books presents it's self as fun high school get together story about a young boy and girl where hi jinks ensue in order for the girl to get the boy, but those "hi jinks" are borderline psychopathic, actually scratch that, they're straight up psychopathic.
I am used to the YA formula full of crazy/cute/funny plans to obtain a love interest. The girl will put a plan into action to get the guy of her dreams, and will spend majority of the book putting this crazy/cute/funny plan into action. The guy finds out about the crazy/cute/funny plan and despite that they end still liking each other because while weird, the plan is always harmless, and they are compatible and actually like the other person and end up getting together somewhere around the last couple of chapters.
**Spoiler Alert**
In this book, not only is the plan that Desi (our main character) puts in to place a crazy, scheming manipulative, devious plan, it's down right illegal and psychopathic. She literally causes a car accident on On Purpose, and still continues with her plan after that.
In addition to having an actual insane person as the main character, the love interest and Desi get together so fast. Now usually when the two main characters get together very quickly in a book and it means that by the end of the book there is a lesson that will be learned, because then the point of the book won't the getting together, it would have been the lesson that was learned because of the getting together. If you thought that was what you were getting with this book, think again!
Not only does our main character intentionally cause a car accident, she repeatedly puts her love interest in situations that will get him into trouble (more than he is already in), she invades his privacy, she continues along with her plan even after finding out that he was already manipulated once by his ex, and when he finds out about her plan and breaks up with her, she still keeps going and nearly gets him killed in a swimming pool.
And I honestly would have been half okay with the book if at that point she actually learned something, but no, instead of having Desi realize she needs psychiatric help if she thought what she did was okay, the author decided to completely brush over everything after Desi shouts that she loves Luca (our love interest) as if that solves anything, as if it's okay to nearly kill someone (twice!) because she liked him so much after knowing him for a month. Luca of course forgives her in 2.3 seconds because "true love" and all that garbage (and while we're on the topic of Luca, he's not even a likable character, not only is kind of flat and one dimensional, he's annoying. This was not a love story I was rooting for).
I do not like that nobody holds Desi accountable, they all treat what she did like a mild infraction, instead a serious issue that would have had me calling the police if I was Luca. Even her father (a whole grown man) doesn't hold her accountable, he just give bogus advice about not letting go and fighting for love.
I also have an issue with Desi implying that her fighting for Luca with her plan was in some way a feminist act. How? Where? Because she was just a creepy as a man is when trying justify being crazy in the name of love? She needs to take several seats on that one.
And the one line that made me actually angry enough to want to stop reading the book is the following: "I was hoping that watching me interact lovingly with children would appeal to some biological straight-guy instinct".
So apparently straight guys are the ones who have "biological instinct" in wanting a family.
Bottom line this book was not my cup of tea, both main characters were not likable and no lessons were learned by anyone. Not even Luca learned his lesson, he went from one manipulative relationship right into another, "good job bro".
This book was pointless, and dangerous for young readers who think this type of behavior is romantic.
I will say that I did like the style of writing and Desi's relationship with her father was really cute (if only he knew how to give proper advice and not raise a a crazy person).
This books presents it's self as fun high school get together story about a young boy and girl where hi jinks ensue in order for the girl to get the boy, but those "hi jinks" are borderline psychopathic, actually scratch that, they're straight up psychopathic.
I am used to the YA formula full of crazy/cute/funny plans to obtain a love interest. The girl will put a plan into action to get the guy of her dreams, and will spend majority of the book putting this crazy/cute/funny plan into action. The guy finds out about the crazy/cute/funny plan and despite that they end still liking each other because while weird, the plan is always harmless, and they are compatible and actually like the other person and end up getting together somewhere around the last couple of chapters.
**Spoiler Alert**
In this book, not only is the plan that Desi (our main character) puts in to place a crazy, scheming manipulative, devious plan, it's down right illegal and psychopathic. She literally causes a car accident on On Purpose, and still continues with her plan after that.
In addition to having an actual insane person as the main character, the love interest and Desi get together so fast. Now usually when the two main characters get together very quickly in a book and it means that by the end of the book there is a lesson that will be learned, because then the point of the book won't the getting together, it would have been the lesson that was learned because of the getting together. If you thought that was what you were getting with this book, think again!
Not only does our main character intentionally cause a car accident, she repeatedly puts her love interest in situations that will get him into trouble (more than he is already in), she invades his privacy, she continues along with her plan even after finding out that he was already manipulated once by his ex, and when he finds out about her plan and breaks up with her, she still keeps going and nearly gets him killed in a swimming pool.
And I honestly would have been half okay with the book if at that point she actually learned something, but no, instead of having Desi realize she needs psychiatric help if she thought what she did was okay, the author decided to completely brush over everything after Desi shouts that she loves Luca (our love interest) as if that solves anything, as if it's okay to nearly kill someone (twice!) because she liked him so much after knowing him for a month. Luca of course forgives her in 2.3 seconds because "true love" and all that garbage (and while we're on the topic of Luca, he's not even a likable character, not only is kind of flat and one dimensional, he's annoying. This was not a love story I was rooting for).
I do not like that nobody holds Desi accountable, they all treat what she did like a mild infraction, instead a serious issue that would have had me calling the police if I was Luca. Even her father (a whole grown man) doesn't hold her accountable, he just give bogus advice about not letting go and fighting for love.
I also have an issue with Desi implying that her fighting for Luca with her plan was in some way a feminist act. How? Where? Because she was just a creepy as a man is when trying justify being crazy in the name of love? She needs to take several seats on that one.
And the one line that made me actually angry enough to want to stop reading the book is the following: "I was hoping that watching me interact lovingly with children would appeal to some biological straight-guy instinct".
So apparently straight guys are the ones who have "biological instinct" in wanting a family.
Bottom line this book was not my cup of tea, both main characters were not likable and no lessons were learned by anyone. Not even Luca learned his lesson, he went from one manipulative relationship right into another, "good job bro".
This book was pointless, and dangerous for young readers who think this type of behavior is romantic.
I will say that I did like the style of writing and Desi's relationship with her father was really cute (if only he knew how to give proper advice and not raise a a crazy person).
Occult Memetics: Reality Manipulation by Tarl Warwick
1.0
I wish I could give this negative stars. I literally threw this book in the garbage when I was done. Absolute waste of time and paper.
Modern Witchcraft and Magic for Beginners: A Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Paths, with Magical Techniques for the Beginner Witch by Lisa Chamberlain
5.0
Very informative, says exactly what it's going to do. It gave great history and explained a lot in a very unbiased way. I learned quite a bit that I had not know before picking this book up. I also enjoyed the easy readability of this book. I would definitely recommend this book!