The Land of Dragor: The Gift of Charms

by Julia Suzuki

Rating: 4/5

Pages: 288 pages in paperback

Publisher:  Dino Books

Publication Date: 2014

ISBN: 9781782199243

Summary (via Goodreads)


In a secret land, far away from the habitation of man, dwell the world's remaining dragons -- hoping the dragsaur beasts have vanished forever. Here they try to live their daily lives, but all is not well and their talents are fading.

Things change, however, when, from a strange egg, Yoshiko is born - a dragon with a unique destiny.

Great adventure lies ahead as many challenges must be overcome, leading to a dangerous mission to the human world in attempt to return to the clans their missing magic!

Can Yoshiko make it in time?  

Review (Possible Spoilers)

Okay so I don't normally review books designed for younger audiences but I decided to make an exception when I got a twitter notification from Julia Suzuki asking for volunteers to review her book. I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Dragons so The Gift of Charms intrigued me.

The Land of Dragor is not completely dissimilar to our own. Dragons live there peacefully, now separate to humans. Yoshiko is a young dragon with a big secret he is truing to hide from his fellow younglings (young dragons)...he can change colour. Yoshiko meets an older Dragon who doesn't think his abilities to be a curse, but a gift, a gift that will help all Dragons. Through his lessons Yoshiko learns his true abilities and realises his mission, a risky mission he was literally born to achieve.

I won't go into any more detail as I don't want to give too much away. So now for the actual review. I have to admit that initially I wasn't sure about this book. The reason for this was due to the fact the Dragons seemed too domestic (eating with spoons and bowls, going shopping.etc). My problem with this was that for me Dragons are always imagined to be like there are in The Hobbit, Eragon and even in Merlin. However, after getting past this I began to give way more to the story.

I found the characters to be intriguing in how each represented a different "breed" of Dragon. Julia Suzuki is very clever in this aspect of her book as the story now took on a new undertone in terms of how we react to someone different. Yoshiko wasn't like any other Dragon, therefore was marginalised and made to feel like he had to hide his secret from everyone else, even his parents for fear of  being called names and bullied. This undertone isn't resolved in this book, but is something I assume is carried on into the next one. However what A Gift of Charms does achieve is the acquirement of self-worth. Yoshiko learns to appreciate himself for his differences rather than hating them.

I would recommend this book to younger readers, or lovers of young fiction due to the fact not only is it an imaginative story, full of fantasy and wonder but also shows that being different should be celebrated. Suzuki has invented a world that is incredible. Hope you enjoy it!

The Arab Season

by Alisa Ahlam

Rating:  3/5

Pages: 296 pages (kindle edition)

Publisher:  ISILINO

Publication Date: first published in 2011

ASIN: B00608T6RE

Summary (via Goodreads)



Secrecy is their byword, family honour, their cross to bear.

If you were a Muslim girl wanting to keep family honour, but loving Western ways, how would you play it? With one foot in each culture, Hani thought she and her friends knew how. They enjoyed what they shouldn’t. They paid a price. One of them paid with her life.

Zuleka’s father, an Imam, keeps his household of girls under strict rule. All have to wear the hijab with abaya or other forms of loose fitting, modest clothing. To him, Zuleka is the epitome of a dutiful daughter. She dreads him discovering her other life.

Hamdi has the most freedom, abandoned by her mother and discounted by her father; she’s loose cannon with attitude.

Ayan manages her life well, respecting her faith and culture, whilst enjoying some light relief.

And, Hani? She can trick her hypochondriac mother, but her radical brother poses her problems.

They enjoy life, but are on a crash course to disaster!

Review

The Arab Season is a story that follows the lives of four young Muslim women: Hani, Ayan, Hamdi and Zuleka, as they take on the challenges and issues facing modern Muslims in contemporary London.

Starting as carefree, untroubled and free to enjoy themselves the girls quickly learn that their rebellious antics have consequences with Zuleka quickly finding herself abandoned and isolated from her community. I actually found her character to be the most interesting personally based on the long journey she takes personally within the book, trying desperately to keep a firm grasp on her dreams when all else is against her.

All four characters develop and change within the book, with each representing a different aspect of not only Muslim culture but also of female culture in itself. Ayan is traditional, the good girl who follows the rules. Hamdi is rebellious, the polar opposite of Ayan, forever trying to be individual and break away from the crowd. This leaves Hani and Zuleka, both living in the middle of Ayan and Hamdi, who despite some differences in the beginning, find themselves clinging to one another by the end of the book, pushed together more by understanding and pain.

The relationship between the four girls develops and changes throughout the book and for me personally is what I find the most interesting area to read. As a non-Muslim, this book was an insight in the incredibly intricate faith and culture of Muslim people, mainly in this case the female side of it. I would recommend this book happily to anyone interested in learning a bit more about this. Although the story is based on contemporary faith, the book still reveals a great deal about how deep routed Muslim culture is for it's followers, something that I believe is most likely relevant for many other cultures, if not all of them. But for Muslim culture in particular, I think this book shows clearly the battle some girls in contemporary life are going through, wanting to express themselves without crossing the line of shaming their families and culture. I think the writer portrays this message beautifully.

My only issue with this book has nothing to do with it's literary content, but rather with the editing of the book which is the only reason I couldn't mark it higher. Whilst reading I found various issues in terms of grammar and punctuation which I felt I needed to mention in order for this to be a fair review. However I would like to mention that despite the errors I didn't feel I couldn't enjoy the book. On the contrary I actually really enjoyed this book and found myself wanting to keep reading to find out what happens in the end, only to be shocked by tragedy. I have a close relationship with a couple of friends myself, so for me, the ending hit home.

So, to finish this review I would say;

I definitely recommend The Arab Season as it portrays a story that encompasses friendship, love, betrayal, sorrow, tragedy and newfound hope. Everything you could possibly want in a book. 

Pride and Prejudice

by Jane Austen

Rating:  5/5

Pages: 296 pages

Publisher: Orion Books

Publication Date: 2008

ISBN: 9781407214320

Summary (via Goodreads)



"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."

So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners--one of the most popular novels of all time--that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.

Review



Right, now everyone knows this story so I won't spend to long on the plot. Girl meets boy, boy is arrogant, girl is blinded by her own preconceived notions, girl dismisses boy. Girl meets new boy, falls for his bull and takes his side, girl finds out truth about both boys and eventually falls in love with first boy. First boy and the girl marry.


I think that just about sums up the general idea. I have read this book countless times and upon reviewing my blog realised I never wrote a review for it...so here it is.


For me, this book is a fairy-tale complete with humour, sarcasm and of course...love. An all-time favourite of mine I have read this book to the point of nearly destroying my copy. I think what makes not just Pride and Prejudice but all of Jane Austen books an addictive read is the way in which she presents her characters, often a strong, independent woman alongside a more naïve one who both have obstacles to overcome.


Now I have to admit, I am one of most likely many girls who has had a bit of a thing for Mr Darcy. He is, even in todays lifetime, a desirable, young, handsome, strong man who despite being tough on the outside is gooey under his shell. The way in which Jane Austen created her leading man to be presented as the villain has always reminded me of my favourite fairy-tale; Beauty and the Beast. I think I just have a soft spot for the misjudged type =/


I think I am going to keep this review short as, like I said, everyone knows this story and its reputation. All I can say is even if your not a fan of older English please give this book a go as it is an enjoyable read for any old romantic.

The Valley of Amazement

by Amy Tan

Rating:  5/5

Pages: 589

Publisher: Fourth Estate

Publication Date: 2014

ISBN: 9780007476480

Summary (via Goodreads)

In fin de siecle Shanghai, Violet Minturn grows up at Hidden Jade Path, the city's most exclusive courtesan house. But when revolution comes, she is separated from her mother and forced to become a 'virgin courtesan.' Both Chinese and American, Violet moves between these cultural worlds, becoming a shrewd businesswoman who deals in seduction and illusion. But her successes belie her private turmoil.

Review (Warning Spoilers!!)

I have to admit, it is rare for me nowadays to find a book that truly leaves me guessing right up until the end page about what will happen. And yet in The Valley of Amazement I found that not only did I not want to put the book down, but I fell in love with the characters, feeling their suffering, joy and betrayals. Told mainly from the main character Violets point of view I found myself experiencing Shanghai in a new way, her way. I became absorbed in the less known world of courtesans and rich men and fine silks and jewellery that in the early 1900s flooded the streets of Shanghai.

Amy Tan has created a raunchy fairy-tale full of love, sex, betrayal and even bad guys =).

Throughout the book Violet overcomes immense struggles and finds her own inner strength  that enables her to keep going, proving to everyone, including herself, that she can achieve everything she wants, a true heroine. In every fairy-tale the hero needs the wise and humorous sidekick and this role is filled by Magic Gourd, a former friend turned sister to Violet who helps and guides her.

For me there was one character who frustrated me, Lu Shing. Now I don't want to go into this too much as you really need to read this for yourself, but all I will say is that in the best possible way, this character was one I hoped from the very beginning of his introduction that he would be responsible and stand up for Violet, only like Violet I was disappointed by him again and again. through this character Amy Tan has provided a deep understanding of what it is to be the eldest son in a traditional Chinese home with all the weight and responsibility this brought. despite my knowledge and appreciation of the dilemma this must cause, I find that like Violet, I still hope for the best.

I don't want to keep writing as I will no doubt start giving too much away. So I will end this review with this, my only criticism with this book is that it is currently not continued by a sequel and I hope one day this will happen. I feel that for me I have not read enough about Violet and her family. having said this I feel the ending I beautiful and concludes the story well for the point at which it is at, with hope and promise and love.

Read this book, you will not be disappointed.

The Bonesetters Daughter

by Amy Tan

Rating:  4/5

Pages: 339

Publisher: Harper Perennial

Publication Date: 2004

ISBN: 9780006550433

Summary (via Goodreads)

Ruth Young and her widowed mother, LuLing, have always had a tumultuous relationship. Now, before she succumbs to forgetfulness, LuLing gives Ruth some of her writings, which reveal a side of LuLing that Ruth has never known. . . .
In a remote mountain village where ghosts and tradition rule, LuLing grows up in the care of her mute Precious Auntie as the family endures a curse laid upon a relative known as the bonesetter. When headstrong LuLing rejects the marriage proposal of the coffinmaker, a shocking series of events are set in motion-all of which lead back to Ruth and LuLing in modern San Francisco. The truth that Ruth learns from her mother's past will forever change her perception of family, love, and forgiveness.

Review


How much do we listen to our parents? How much do we value their input in our lives, their advice? And, more importantly, how would we feel if that presence was taken from us, forever?


I have read similar values like this in the previous book I have reviewed, The Joy Luck Club, but I found the way in which this story evolves and absorbs the reader in much more satisfying.


The story follows Ruth, a successful modern woman who is forever having to deal with her eccentric and overbearing mother, LuLing, a burden she has resented since childhood. However, gradually she notices her mother is acting oddly, and then when the worst is confirmed, she starts to notice her mother more and more and begins to wonder if there is in fact method to the madness after all.

Overall, this book shows a charming a addictive story about two generations of women from several families who have each in turn their own story to tell. At times I found myself sympathising with them, noticing similarities between certain moments and myself, but even in the characters I felt I could not relate to I still enjoyed the way in which Tan allows the story to unfold.

A must read book!

The Joy Luck Club

by Amy Tan

Rating:  3/5

Pages: 352

Publisher: Vintage

Publication Date: 2013

ISBN: 9780749399573

Summary (via Goodreads)

In 1949 four Chinese women, recent immigrants to San Francisco, meet weekly to play mahjong and tell stories of what they left behind in China. United in loss and new hope for their daughters' futures, they call themselves the Joy Luck Club. Their daughters, who have never heard these stories, think their mothers' advice is irrelevant to their modern American lives - until their own inner crises reveal how much they've unknowingly inherited of their mothers' pasts.

Review


I have never read one of Amy Tan's books previously and therefore was excited as to what kind of writer she would be. I wasn't disappointed. The Joy Luck Club tells the story of four women and their daughters and the lives and secrets and misunderstandings that naturally occur throughout domestic life.


Ever heard the saying "Mother knows best"? Well this book redefines that. Suyuan Woo is a women pulled down by the weight of her secrets, secrets that she wants to tell her daughter but is worried about doing so...how would her daughter react? However it is only when it is too late that the truth surfaces and June Woo is faced with a dilemma - should she go back to China, her mother's homeland and accomplish what her mother was never able to?


Overall the book is dedicated to motherly love and the hardships that Chinese mothers, and no doubt many others, faced after WW2 in terms of teaching their modern, rebellious daughters life lessons.


I have to admit, at points I did get a bit confused over which storyline was which character, but I think that was more my error than the books and it didn't last long. In general I enjoyed reading this book and have already purchased more from Amy Tan to sample more of her writing. The characters, despite being of a different time and cultural background to myself, I felt I was able to sympathise with, something that further submerged me into the book. Of all the characters, June is my favourite and I almost wish that there was more about her in the book, maybe even a sequel to continue the story from where it finished in the book.



Overall verdict....enjoyable, relatable, fun and loveable.

China Dolls

by Lisa See

Rating:  5/5

 

Pages: 448

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Publication Date: 2014

ISBN: 9781408853252

Summary (via Goodreads)

In 1938, Ruby, Helen and Grace, three girls from very different backgrounds, find themselves competing at the same audition for showgirl roles at San Francisco's exclusive ‘Oriental’ nightclub, the Forbidden City. Grace, an American born Chinese girl has fled the Midwest and an abusive father. Helen is from a Chinese family who have deep roots in San Francisco’s Chinatown. And, as both her friends know, Ruby is Japanese passing as Chinese.
At times their differences are pronounced, but the girls grow to depend on one another in order to fulfill their individual dreams. Then the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor and everything changes in a heartbeat. Suddenly the government is sending innocent Japanese to internment camps under suspicion, and Ruby is one of them. But which of her friends betrayed her?(

Review (Spoilers!)

Okay so anyone who has read this blog knows that I am a HUGE fan of Lisa See and her latest book China Dolls shows why. The book is set in 1940s America, and from the back drop of Pearl Harbor to the fun dancing girls of the night clubs this is a incredible read.

The book follows the story of three young women who become friends against all the odds set against them, including their own differences. In order for me to give this book a fairly decent review I need to analyse each of the main characters separately.

To begin with there is Grace, a country bumpkin in search of fame in the big city. Talented as both a dancer and a singer she wants to prove that in a time when people were prejudice towards Chinatown and its residents, even a Chinese girl could prove herself. Grace is the naïve presence of the three friends, a girl trapped by her own fears and determined to prove people wrong.

On this journey to find stardom amongst the glitter and jazz of the 40s she meets Helen, a secretive woman, obedient to her family and determined to run from her own terrible past, a past she is determined to keep hidden from her new friends at all costs.

The last of the group is Ruby, a Japanese girl hiding behind a Chinese façade. She's strong willed, fun and over the top compared to her more reserved friends. For her it is nothing but fame and beauty, she wants to be admired and envied by all...and will stop at nothing to get what in her opinion is hers no matter who gets caught in the cross fire.

What I enjoyed the most in this book is the way that the dynamic of the friends changed as each in turn turned against another until betrayal was an inevitable ending. At times I resented the characters of Helen or Ruby depending on what part of the book I was reading, something I have never experience in a Lisa See novel previously. This was an interesting way for me to experience the book as I noticed I sympathised more with Grace than with the other two characters, despite the story being told from each viewpoint.

Overall I think See has shown how difficult life was for not only women, but especially "Oriental" women at the time. But more importantly, throughout the novel she shows how friendship, and the people we encounter through our lives can both bring us great joy as well as great sorrow.

A definite recommendation to any lover of girl power, friendship, Chinese culture, swinging town-cats and history. I personally think this will make a great movie!