Review Sunday: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

Tim Macbeth, a seventeen-year-old albino and a recent transfer to the prestigious Irving School, where the motto is “Enter here to be and find a friend.” A friend is the last thing Tim expects or wants—he just hopes to get through his senior year unnoticed. Yet, despite his efforts to blend into the background, he finds himself falling for the quintessential “It” girl, Vanessa Sheller, girlfriend of Irving’s most popular boy. To Tim's surprise, Vanessa is into him, too, but she can kiss her social status goodbye if anyone ever finds out. Tim and Vanessa begin a clandestine romance, but looming over them is the Tragedy Paper, Irving’s version of a senior year thesis, assigned by the school’s least forgiving teacher.
Jumping between viewpoints of the love-struck Tim and Duncan, a current senior about to uncover the truth of Tim and Vanessa, The Tragedy Paper is a compelling tale of forbidden love and the lengths people will go to keep their 




As a whole the book was thrilling and fast paced making it the kind of book you do not want to put down, this is partly credit to how the story plays out. It is rather the opposite to the kind of book that makes you want to scream at the characters because you know what they do not and they fall into the trap anyway... no this is a book where the characters know something you do not. This unknown event is mentioned frequently throughout the book, and as the new story is told the old one is also revealed to the reader. This is why I wanted to keep reading, I needed to know what they knew. 
The way the story is written I find interesting as I haven't read many like this, where the main character is left tapes where another character tells a story to him, therefore it was nice to read something new a refreshing. 
The characters I found are very strong in that they are very defined to who they are, they have traits that are specific to them, which I like because it really shows how people are individual and a little if not a lot strange in ways. 
One of the man characters, or voices in the book is albino, and because of this, mixed in with the story we really view things from the shoes of someone who has had it tough for a long time, and yes this makes us value what we have but I think it also highlights how we treat others. I admire this characters way in that he doesn't stare at people or pay too much attention when something happens around him cause he knows what it's like to be stared at, I think this is something people would be better off if they learnt to do this. 
So overall, the plot was brilliant and the story interesting.. but I have to be honest and say that I was a little disappointed by the ending. Maybe it was just my viewpoint, but personally I felt the huge build up throughout the book made the ending seem flat... yes something tragic happened... and yes I guess it was life changing.. but I didn't feel like it was enough. I felt like the guilt of one of the characters would have meant they were more involved I guess. Maybe that's a character flaw of my own? But I wasn't best pleased with the ending of the book, it just didn't sit well with the rest of the book to me. 
However I would still recommend this book, as it is thrilling and interesting, kicking up emotions  different to those 'love stories' usual arouse, and after all you may have a different opinion on the ending.
If you have read The Tragedy Paper, I would love to hear your opinion on how it ends.
It would get a rating of 3.75/5 (can I do decimals?)

Reviewed for Random House, thank you for sending!

Also before you go, check out the trailer for The Tragedy Paper... 

Guest Post: Cheryl Kaye Tardiff - Author of Submerged

From Cheryl Kaye Tardif, the international bestselling author that brought you CHILDREN OF THE FOG, comes a terrifying new thriller that will leave you breathless…

SUBMERGED

"Submerged reads like an approaching storm, full of darkness, dread and electricity. Prepare for your skin to crawl."

—Andrew Gross, New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds

 

Two strangers submerged in guilt, brought together by fate…

After a tragic car accident claims the lives of his wife, Jane, and son, Ryan, Marcus Taylor is immersed in grief. But his family isn't the only thing he has lost. An addiction to painkillers has taken away his career as a paramedic. Working as a 911 operator is now the closest he gets to redemption—until he gets a call from a woman trapped in a car.

Rebecca Kingston yearns for a quiet weekend getaway, so she can think about her impending divorce from her abusive husband. When a mysterious truck runs her off the road, she is pinned behind the steering wheel, unable to help her two children in the back seat. Her only lifeline is a cell phone with a quickly depleting battery and a stranger's calm voice on the other end telling her everything will be all right.

*SUBMERGED has a unique tie-in to Tardif`s international bestseller, CHILDREN OF THE FOG.

More Reviews:

"From the first page, you know you are in the hands of a seasoned and expert storyteller who is going to keep you up at night turning the pages. Tardif knows her stuff. There's a reason she sells like wildfire—her words burn up the pages. A wonderful, scary, heart-pumping writer." —M.J. Rose, international bestselling author of Seduction

"Tardif once again delivers a suspenseful supernatural masterpiece." —Scott Nicholson, international bestselling author of The Home

"From the first page, Cheryl Kaye Tardif takes you hostage with Submerged—a compelling tale of anguish and redemption." —Rick Mofina, bestselling author of Into the Dark

"Cheryl Kaye Tardif's latest novel SUBMERGED will leave you as haunted as its characters." —Joshua Corin, bestselling author of Before Cain Strikes

"Submerged will leave you breathless—an edge of your seat, supernatural thrill ride." —Jeff Bennington, bestselling author of Twisted Vengeance

Get SUBMERGED today.

Learn more about Cheryl Kaye Tardif at http://www.cherylktardif.com.

Like her Facebook page and follow her on Twitter.

My writing

Hey guys,

Sorry I haven't been around lately, things have been mad!

I still have to write a review for Tragedy Paper, which I will try and get up for tomorrow.
I've made a tumblr for my writing, mostly little poems (and I've never really been a fan of writing poetry but hey) so I'm just here to tell you guys that it's up and running and if you wanna check it out, click here:

My writing blog

Blog Tour, Guest Post, Giveaway: Kerry Taylor Author of Stones of My Heart

Please welcome the lovely Kerry Taylor to Words on The Shelf, Kerry is the author of Stones of My Heart 

Blurb:

In this poetry collection, follow author Kerry Taylor's journey as she survives depression, abuse, stalkers, and bad hair days.

Author Bio:

Kerry Taylor, a single parent of three, has been knocked down many times in life. She has grieved through various stages such as: the loss of family members, friends, houses, health, money and her husband. Abuse by strangers and family members resulted in the loss of her dignity. She has held onto her pride, believing that one day things will get better.

With three healthy children, she wrote Stones of My Heart to share her autobiography in the form of poetry. Writing has become her sanctuary; allowing expression through her creative gift. A gift that keeps her afloat during her darkest hours.

Hey everyone, this is Kerry Taylor’s list of favorites! Check it out and see if you have any similarities!

Favourite Movie: Imitation of Life

Favourite Animation: Lion King

Favourite Book: To Kill a Mocking Bird

Favourite Actor: Clint Eastwood

Favourite Actress: Meryl Streep

Favourite Song: I just can not give up now

Favourite Singer: Luther Vandross

Favourite Colour: Yellow

Favourite Line: C'est la vie

Favourite Photo: Attached

Favourite Child: None

Favourite Day: Saturday

Favourite Time: Midnight

Favourite Season: Spring

Favourite Place: The Beach

What about you? What are some of your favorites?

Online Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kerry.taylor2012

Blog: http://kerrytaylor74.wordpress.com/

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Button Link:

http://www.skypirateproductions.com/current-blog-tours.html

Review Sundays: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Hello and welcome to the second Review Sunday, this week I will be reviewing Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Inhale. Exhale. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe . . . The world is dead. The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.
Alina has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.
Quinn should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.Bea wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.
And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?





This book is phenomenal, if you have followed some of my reviews, you will know that I have a weakness of love for dystopian novels and for me, Breathe really achieved the fullest of what a dystopian novel can resolve. This novel takes the idea of a changed world to the extreme by removing something that is fundamental to our world, to us and giving it the role of something to be earned, it becomes something objective.
Oxygen something I'm sure many of us take for granted because breathing to us has become something subconscious we barely notice, has been turned into something precious. Oxygen in Breathe becomes the kind of thing only the wealthy can afford excess of and the poor can struggle to maintain enough of, like for example clothing and its quality in our world. Isn't that comparison sad, our precious thing is clothing compared to oxygen in Breathe?
This is a reason why I love the whole concept of the novel, it not only reminds you that you should be thankful that you are alive and have a family and friends like most books, but it reminds you that for every breath you take you should be grateful.
Sarah creates a world where oxygen levels have plummeted and those who survived built a pod where oxygen is pumped into, the people and their oxygen supplies are watched and controlled closely by the society. They have lived there for years, but things are getting better on the outside, except this is something they haven't been told. The society has darker secrets, they have men on the outside to look for others outside the pod, and possibly inside it too who know more than they should and are doing things the society does not approve of and aims to stop. Those people form the rebellion.
The characters Sarah has created aren't superficial, but they are real, a young girl who is intelligent and hard working but isn't rewarded for it because of her background. A young boy who is wealthy and smart, but is never given the chance to earn anything because it is given to him. Characters that show strength and love even though they aren't accepted because of their sexuality, appreciation for the trees that give us air, kindness and care to those they barely knew. Characters that resemble the older generation who can be forgotten for all they did, and those that show that people can be completely different than who they are on the surface. The characters learn these things from each other as the story progresses.
The story is intense and filled with anticipation, dread and action. The characters defy the irrational laws their society has bound them by, because every society is run selfishly. It will make your heart warm, make you smile but not quite laugh, make your heart ache and break, but it will hold it back together again, and even though you'll feel loss and betrayal, you'll cry but you'll never quite feel sad, because you'll feel their love.
A quote from Breathe:

“I allow myself to be right here, in the moment, savouring the peace. All the millions and millions of stars remind me, too, how small and fragile I am. And unimportant, really. If this branch were to creak and moan and break under my weight, and I were to plummet to the ground, the stars in the sky would continue to decorate the world. And even if the last tree disappears from our planet, the stars will still be up there.” 

I guess this kind of reminds us that there is so much more out there that it is bigger than us and we are just a fraction in time, a spectacle in the big picture. But it also shows that even when things are gone and dead like the stars above us, they're still beautiful and appreciated from a far, still remembered.
I really loved Breathe the characters names Quinn (one of my favourite boys names, and sometimes girls name, ever!), Bea, Alina.. all the names have an unused, originality to them which I love and the characters all have a certain personality which defines them. I just adored this book and I thought it had ended before it actually had and I was still content with the ending a couple of pages before the real ending, because I thought it was a stand alone book. But now, I am waiting like a fan girl of a band who want to meet them, for the next installment of this series.

I really, really, really urge you if you're a lover of dystopian such as myself, if you read Divergent and wanted more, if you read Crossed and fell in love, if you read Hunger Games and hated the Capitol and if you read Delirium and dreamed for what was beyond.. then this book right here will give you everything you love and hate about a dystopian world.

But if you need a little more convincing here is the book trailer...



Convinced you need to read this book right now? Not yet? Listen to the authors inspiration...



Needless to say Breathe scored high on my rating.
Breathe was reviewed for Bloomsbury publishing, thank you for sending me this amazing novel Bloomsbury!

Tune in to next weeks Review Sunday for The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth Laban

Review Sundays: The Fault in our Stars by John Green

So I would like to try this new thing called Review Sundays, both giving me a boost to read more and to post regularly on the blog, so here the first review sunday.. and it's a great book to start with.. The Fault in Our Stars!

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.


Insightful, bold, irreverent, and raw, The Fault in Our Stars is award-winning author John Green's most ambitious and heartbreaking work yet, brilliantly exploring the funny, thrilling, and tragic business of being alive and in love.

What can I say, for those of you who have not yet stumbled across this book and hungrily absorbed each page, eager to reach an ending that will inevitably rip your heart out. You have not known what it is to laugh and cry and die on the inside in the way this book will make you. 
The Fault in our Stars follows the life of Hazel, a sufferer of lung cancer who knows she doesn't have long to live. If I was to sum up Hazel's personality in one word, it would be real. Hazel is real, she's a teenager with all the sadness and distractions, but she's also mature; she understanding.. in so many ways that most people just aren't. She offers an insight into the life of people suffering from terminal illness and how that effects them, their lives and mostly their families. I felt  I really connected with Hazel and her views on the world, death and love. 
When Augustus first comes into her life he seems like a typical, charming teenage boy.. but the more time they spend together the more of Augustus we see. He is deep and knowing and completely in love with a girl who he knows he is going to lose.
Their story is the kind of beautiful that makes you feel like an abyss has opened up in your chest. Augustus and Hazel save each other with their love, even when it causes them such grief in the end. 
"The thing about pain... it demands to be felt."
There are a lot of lessons to be learned from this story, to appreciate your health, your family, being able to breathe.. but what I took from it was that, even though life beats you down in every way it can we have one thing that can save us, one thing that we live for, something that people take for granted or don't actually feel when they say they do; and that's love.
For avid readers especially this book will be perfect for you, because you'll be able to relate so well with the literate characters and their views/personalities. But in all honesty I know people who don't read books much and would recommend this to you in a heartbeat. John Green has created a story that will seep under your skin and remain there for a long time, he has shown us characters that we will never be able to un-know.
I'm trying not to give away any spoilers because this is the kind of book your don't want to understand the gist of from reading little snippets of information on the internet, especially little snippets of other peoples opinions, its the kind of book you want to sit inside with for a good long day and read cover to cover with a box of tissues at the ready and a heart that can survive a good breaking. 

But I will show you my first reactions after finishing The Fault in our Stars: 

Yep. The Fault in our Stars broke my heart.

But wow, John Green is a fricken empathetic genius

And I need like every other book of his right now

Like what can I read after reading The Fault in Our Stars.. it's just not gonna compare

I haven't read John Green's other books, but I feel like I need every single on of them right now, I would really love to hear your thoughts on The Fault in our Stars, and if you've read them your favourite of his other master pieces.

I think I'm going to say it.. my new favourite read. I don't usually feel like I would want to go back and re-read books when I know what happens, but I think this book will be read frequently and adored.

"It seemed like forever ago, like we've had this brief but still infinite forever. Some infinites are bigger than other infinites."

Next week's Review Sunday is for Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Trailer: The Tragedy Paper by Elizabeth LaBan