Down the Rabbit Hole

Nostalgia. That is the word I think of when I recall my childhood days.

Nostalgia. When dreams were as endless as the skies above; where days were filled with wonder and longing at the adventures unfolding at my fingertips.

I don’t know about you but I started my passion as a reader from a young age. Like, a really young age. Reading was encouraged for youngsters, and I secretly thought (with all the glee of a child could) all the adults in my life wished their kids had such a love for reading as I did so early on.

My fondness for books has only grown in the years from its meager beginnings. As evidence of this, shelf upon shelf have been lovingly crafted as homes for the books I deemed worthy enough to house (and pay for). One, two, there, slowly they came. Each book cherished. Each one with a story that draws breath into an almost forgotten memory.

But oh. The stories that are true treasures? Those are rare and far between these days. What are they? you may ask. Ah, they are but the stories that travel parallel to my own life’s story.

Picture this. Have you ever recalled a book and besides its own story that it brings back, it also draws out the events in your own life that had been captured in memory associated with that book? If not, then it’s never too late for such a wondrous book to come into your life. But if you are someone who understands this sentiment? That, my friend, is nostalgia at its finest.

And thus, the prompting for this post is to regale my utter excitement at finding two such stories that beheld my childhood days.

Do not laugh or scold me. Truly, I don’t think such a tale deserves to be considered as mere child’s play. It may be old, but I think the finest stories lie in its ability to withstand the age it was written in. A test of time, if you will.

What is it? My fondest memory and favourite genre as a child was, in fact, mystery novels. And to whom shall I give my thanks for such a love? That regard goes to the coolest girl detectives ever.

You probably guessed it by now. These girls are none other than Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden.

I was a true fan of both series. For the former, my secret dream has recently been to collect the original first 56 hardcover novels that were written under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene over the vast long years. Not an easy (or cheap) feat, I’ll tell you. So I thought it was just simply that. A dream. I’ll leave it to the pieces of my conscious mind to reminisce over the grand adventures I myself pretended to live while thriving on the years of those mysteries.

Then, lo and behold, I come across a beautiful section of a second-hand bookstore in a nearby town. What do my eyes find almost immediately? A whole section of her books, almost a complete collection of the 56 hardcovers. Of course, even at reduced prices, I could hardly pay for them all. But that’s not the purpose of this post.

I’m sharing with you that wonderful feeling of remembering. So many times do people, as they grow up, tend to push aside what once mattered in hopeless search for things that may always be just out of our grasp. Sometimes, I think it’s worthwhile to remember what it felt to have a heart of a child. And a mind of a dreamer. Where fantastical worlds and endless possibilities were our guiding light.

If you were a young reader like I was and truly enjoyed it, I’d say, the key for such feelings may lie deep within a book that parallel your story.

So. Whatever did I do at the second-hand bookstore? I bought a few of the books, of course. Not the 56 that I would’ve liked, but just enough to remind myself that it’s okay to sit still and dream a little even as I get older and dreams turn more into a long-ago fantasy that was once conjured.

nancy drew 24 nancy drew 32 nancy drew 44

Review: P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han

June 3, 2015June 3, 2015 Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before #2

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.

She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.

When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.

2.5 Drink Me Potions

Can I just first say that I’ve been DYING for this book for a whole long year? Ever since I read its predecessor, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, which mind you is THE book that got me into writing reviews, I was absolutely ecstatic to hear that there was going to be a second book. Could my life have gotten any better? was the question that flowed through my mind at that point.

And that is where all my hopes and expectations fell.

It literally hurts to write this review which is less than the 5 stars I was expecting. Where shall I begin?

The plot
It was just SO slow. For a good first half of the book, nothing REALLY happened. Yes, Lara Jean was enjoying her newfound relationship with Peter (my heart was screaming YES! ’cause I absolutely adore him…but I’ll get to him later). Everything wasn’t hunky dory or anything. It wasn’t THAT bland. That beautiful hot tub scene from the end of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before? Do you remember that? Well. Let’s just say, it’s become a publicized meme around the school. I know, heartbreaking right?

So Lara Jean is fretting and embarrassed. Her sisters are equally helping her deal with it in their particular ways. But it truly was not worth half a book to focus on. Yes, Peter showed off his gallant side (*happy sigh*), but even that didn’t entertain me for long enough.

The writing style also seemed so disjointed. Some chapters were so short. It was literally one event, and then you jump to the next event which could be a day or whatever later. And then onto the next event in the next chapter. There wasn’t a whole lot of flow, like Jenny Han was sticking short constructed pieces together. It wasn’t the most enjoyable format, especially when things were already going quite slow substance-wise.

Then things just got downright UGLY in the next half. I shall start off with…

Lara Jean
I like that she’s still her unique self, being half Korean and all. Jenny Han is still amazing at integrating such cultural aspects into the story. But I was just SO annoyed with Lara Jean in this book. She was too jealous and mistrustful of Peter’s friendship with his ex. Mind you, I don’t particularly like her either. She’s truly a dog (and I mean that in a not-so-nice way). But to be wrought with jealousy to the point that she would mistrust Peter’s intentions wasn’t pleasant to see unfold.

John What’s-His-Name (he has a REALLY long name – which I don’t care about)
And then there was John. The other guy that the synopsis hinted at. I don’t understand why Jenny Han had to bring him back. Was there really nothing else to give this story substance?

Okay, maybe the answer is yes, considering the first half wasn’t all that great with substance either. But still. He felt so unnecessary. Please. A random love triangle thrown into the middle of the SECOND novel? It was already a little weird with the neighbour/good friend Josh in the last novel, but I actually liked him more because he was someone Lara Jean knew. John just kind of…popped up. She may have known him in the past, but I, as the reader, sure as heck don’t give a crap about him. He wasn’t MY past crush.

I admit I may be a teensy bit biased ’cause I love Peter, but still. My reasoning is sound. Lara Jean shouldn’t have tried to get herself to rekindle such feelings for John when in reality, I felt she was never quite over Peter.

The OTHER characters
That leaves me with the characters I did still enjoy, even with minor irritants.

Margot, Lara Jean’s older sister, seems to have forgiven her for the uh, minor problem with Josh (Margot’s ex and one of the crushes). However, things are NOT la-la land for Margot & Josh. I was a bit sad. I don’t know. I didn’t love them as a couple even in the previous book, but to me, if they weren’t with each other, it just felt weird seeing them with different people.

Kitty, the younger Song sister, was as wild as ever. I’ve always had such a strange liking for her. I wouldn’t exactly want such a manipulative yet still adorable younger sister in real life, but I can’t help but like her. I love that both sisters are so unique and made in a way that both complements Lara Jean as well as showcases what a sisterly relationship looks like. It’s not always perfect, and there may be HUGE differences between the girls, but they have each others’ backs at the end of the day. The Song girls united. I loved that.

Oh, and that brings me to Peter. Ah, Peter Kavinsky. First, I’d like to mention that I missed seeing Josh in this novel. He was rather big in the previous one, and he just wasn’t relevant I suppose in the sequel, considering Lara Jean got over him and what not. Still. I missed his presence as the good family friend he was. I suppose it was realistic. Not everything can go back to the way things were after relationships get complicated.

Okay, back to PETER. He made my day in the story. I was so tired of reading it. That breaks my heart to say. I SO, SO hoped it would have been a fun read. I even bought it on the very first day it came out. But seeing Peter’s actions and dialogue, I think this novel showcased his personality really well. We got to see the better side of him in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, but as a boyfriend? That was something new. He may be a lot of imperfect things, but he tried his best for Lara Jean. I may have despised what she did to him, but I appreciated how the author handled their relationship in the end. It wasn’t as open ended as the previous book, but it gives a lot of hope and a wonderful message.

Relationships aren’t going to be easy, and people may even get really hurt. But at the end of the day, it’s worth jumping into. What’s one of my favourite sayings? It’s better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. It’s pretty applicable here.

I wish I could say the good outweighed the bad, but I couldn’t handle this book. It may have been my HUGELY escalated expectations, but I think it just didn’t hold the kind of substance I look for in a novel. I’m quite saddened to say I’m rather disappointed.

Overall Recommendation:
I waited forever, or so it seems, for P.S. I Still Love You. I absolutely ADORED To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before that I thought Jenny Han could do no wrong when it came to a sequel that had my very favourite people in it. She has a way with making her characters come alive. From the Song sisters to Lara Jean herself, there is the cultural aspect of being half-Korean and holding onto that heritage, while still giving each girl a very distinct personality. I also hold Peter K to the highest regard when it comes to male protagonists. That being said, with such love comes high expectations, and occasionally, a great fall into disappointment. I’m sad to say that the plot was extremely slow and held far too little substance. The focal points were unnecessary and rather childish in my opinion. So with a saddened heart, I must say that I recommend enjoying the first book and maybe only reading this if you must see how Peter and Lara Jean’s relationship unfolds (and refolds ’cause it’s complicated and messy that way).

Review: Ice Kissed by Amanda Hocking

June 2, 2015 Andge @ Down the Rabbit Hole

Series: Kanin Chronicles #2

In the majestic halls of a crystal palace lies a secret that could destroy an entire kingdom…

Bryn Aven refuses to give up on her dream of serving the kingdom she loves. It’s a dream that brings her to a whole new realm…and the glittering palace of the Skojare.

The Skojare people need protection from the same brutal enemy that’s been threatening the Kanin, and Bryn is there to help. Being half Skojare herself, it’s also a chance for her to learn more about her lost heritage. Her boss, Ridley Dresden, is overseeing her mission, but as their undeniable attraction heats up, their relationship is about to reach a whole new level—one neither of them is prepared for.

As they delve deeper into the Skojare world, they begin to unravel a long-hidden secret. The dark truth about her own beloved Kanin kingdom is about to come to light, and it will change her place in it forever…and threaten everyone she loves.

4 Drink Me Potions

Following the aftermath of events in Frostfire, Amanda Hocking didn’t disappoint me with any middle book syndrome. I found Ice Kissed rather compelling and intriguing.

As I mentioned when I reviewed Frostfire, the whole premise of this strange, almost fantastical world set WITHIN our every day world is very unique. It definitely intrigues me more than say, if this was a whole new and separate world of its own. This second installment didn’t go out into the human world but the land of the Skojare tribe (of trolls) was nicely explored.

With the Skojare Queen still missing, Bryn feels like she failed at her duties and mission to bring her back. Many questions were thrown about. What happened to her? If they found her, was she a part of whatever weird conspiracy that was going on with the Kanin tribe’s most wanted criminals? I loved that there were always things to wonder about, never quite making the story boring even when the pacing wasn’t terrible fast or anything.

I was scared that there was going to be some horrid love triangle in this series, but I’m happy to say that I may have read the implications wrong. Ridley is still his amazing self, and as their relationship gets more complicated after crossing that line past friendship in the previous novel, Bryn can’t seem to hide even to herself just what he means to her. Although I like that their growing attraction is developing, I’m very pleased that it wasn’t the centre of the story. Trying to figure out what is going on with the Skojare and how it may relate to the Kanin’s current problems was definitely the highlight, and it made the whole story more enjoyable.

My one complaint would be that I wished the story was a little longer, or at least held some more substance. There are questions, but there are few answers given. The Kanin are preparing for war, and Bryn has no idea who she can trust anymore. Maybe the bad guy Konstantin Black isn’t all that bad after all. Everyone’s motives are so hard to predict. It’s awesome – and frustrating at the same time. I’ll be impatiently waiting to figure out the answers in Crystal Kingdom when it comes out.

Overall Recommendation:
Following Frostfire, this second installment, Ice Kissed was pleasantly enjoyable while still carrying on some of the intrigue from the previous book. Ideas of conspiracies are afloat and Bryn isn’t sure who she should trust. All the while, the steady but complicated relationship with her boss Ridley is ever present. Their growing attraction has to be dealt with, and it is the only promise for something good in a future that only seems to hold bleak events. War is looming and Bryn has no idea who her allies are. With a great set up for the final conclusion, Ice Kissed was entertaining in itself as a novel, but definitely added to the greater picture.