Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Goodreads Blurb

Harry Potter, along with his best friends, Ron and Hermione, is about to start his third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Harry can’t wait to get back to school after the summer holidays. (Who wouldn’t if they lived with the horrible Dursleys?) But when Harry gets to Hogwarts, the atmosphere is tense. There’s an escaped mass murderer on the loose, and the sinister prison guards of Azkaban have been called in to guard the school…

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Another amazing continuation to Harry Potter. This third book had more secrets and suspense. I loved how all the secrets unraveled. Harry seems happier and stronger as he grows up. I love how Harry and his friends go out and search for answers with no fear. This book just keeps the reader reveled in the magic and secrets. I was happy to see Harry still has a close family friend.

Author Biography

As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: “I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee.” At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said “taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind,” gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford’s autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling’s heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.

Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, “I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life.” She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, “Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She’s a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I’m not particularly proud of.” Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as “not exceptional” but “one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English.” Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.

Review: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling

Goodreads Blurb

J.K. Rowling’s screenwriting debut is captured in this exciting hardcover edition of the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them screenplay.

When Magizoologist Newt Scamander arrives in New York, he intends his stay to be just a brief stopover. However, when his magical case is misplaced and some of Newt’s fantastic beasts escape, it spells trouble for everyone…

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them marks the screenwriting debut of J.K. Rowling, author of the beloved and internationally bestselling Harry Potter books. Featuring a cast of remarkable characters, this is epic, adventure-packed storytelling at its very best.

Whether an existing fan or new to the wizarding world, this is a perfect addition to any reader’s bookshelf.

My Review: Rated 5 out of 5 stars

It was so magical reading this screenplay. I did see the movie before reading this book. I actually loved that I was able to vividly see the creators as they came into the play. I loved all the animals that were created, plus Newt is just the perfect protector of these animals. He is very loving to them. I love the illustrations. They really depict the creatures in this book. I was happy to be able to come back to the world of magic after reading Harry Potter books. I love the romance between Jacob and Queenie it was just perfect. I can’t wait to read the continuation to this series.

Author Biography

Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she chose K as the second initial of her pen name, from her paternal grandmother Kathleen Ada Bulgen Rowling. She calls herself Jo and has said, “No one ever called me ‘Joanne’ when I was young, unless they were angry.” Following her marriage, she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business. During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. In a 2012 interview, Rowling noted that she no longer cared that people pronounced her name incorrectly.

Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, and Anne Rowling (née Volant), on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King’s Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother’s maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother’s paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.

Rowling’s sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael’s Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael’s, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.

As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: “I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee.” At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said “taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind,” gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford’s autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling’s heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.

Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, “I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life.” She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, “Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She’s a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I’m not particularly proud of.” Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as “not exceptional” but “one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English.” Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.

Review: It’s All Fun and Games by Dave Barrett

Goodreads Blurb

When Allison’s best friend, TJ, convinces her to come along for an epic game of LARP (live-action role-playing), she reluctantly agrees despite her reservations about the geeky pastime. TJ’s weekends are filled with powerful wizardry, mystical creatures, and intense battles with his LARP group. Each adventure is full of surprises, but the goal is always the same: to defeat the monsters and find the treasure.

Not long after their quest begins, the friends discover that something has gone wrong. The fantasy world they’ve built has transformed, and the battle they’re in the midst of is no longer make-believe.
Now they must fight for survival against brigands, kobolds, and other deadly mythical creatures that come to life. Fortunately, the group’s once-fictional magical powers have also become real – including Allison’s newly acquired gifts as a healer. They’ll need everything in their arsenal if they hope to make it home alive.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

This was a good story that brought live action role play to life. The group of teens didn’t know that the game that wasn’t real would bring them to a world where goblins and creatures roam. Weapons always had safety features, but once they entered that fantasy world, weapons became what they truly were a deathly weapon. The author did a nice job of making the game come to life to the readers.

Upcoming Book Event: Marisha Pessl

Thursday, December 5

Meet New York Times Bestselling Author Marisha Pessl Thursday Dec. 5th 6PM

Come meet the amazing Marisha Pessl, a New York Times bestselling author, on Thursday, Dec. 5th at 6PM!

Location
Books & Greetings

271 Livingston Street Northvale, NJ 07647

Purchase ticket here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/meet-new-york-times-bestselling-author-marisha-pessl-thursday-dec-5th-6pm-tickets-1090051185439?aff=oddtdtcreator

Review: The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics

Goodreads Blurb

Lucy Acosta’s mother died when she was three. Growing up in a Victorian mansion in the middle of the woods with her cold, distant father, she explored the dark hallways of the estate with her cousin, Margaret. They’re inseparable—a family.

When her aunt Penelope, the only mother she’s ever known, tragically disappears while walking in the woods surrounding their estate, Lucy finds herself devastated and alone. Margaret has been spending a lot of time in the attic. She claims she can hear her dead mother’s voice whispering from the walls. Emotionally shut out by her father, Lucy watches helplessly as her cousin’s sanity slowly unravels. But when she begins hearing voices herself, Lucy finds herself confronting an ancient and deadly legacy that has marked the women in her family for generations.

My Review: Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Look no further if you are looking for a horror book with vivid, frightening scenes. This is the first time I’ve read a book by Amy, and the gore is real. You know, when you live through a terrifying nightmare and you remember everything, well, you won’t forget what you read. I cannot unsee the vomiting of teeth and everything that makes us human inside.

It was great that the story took place in a Victorian mansion; it gave off those spooky vibes that would drive this story to the frightening scenes. It begins with a death and a disappearance, which leads to the unknown. Amy isn’t afraid to kill her characters; I think she enjoys it. The gruesome deaths are those that should only be kept in nightmares and not real life. The reader’s discretion is advised as this novel also has scenes of self-harm. Two characters will end their life, and Lucy Acosta causes self-harm by making cuts on her skin. This book has many emotions that, as a reader, you will feel. The story revolves around revenge. The character, Mother, manipulates people into doing her bidding. When the evil witch is released, the others will pay. In the end, you will be shocked by the disgusting gore and the fact that the story will not end happily ever after.
If you start hearing voices through the walls and scratches, I recommend you ignore them and leave that location ASAP!!!

Author Biography

Ever since she was little, Amy was especially intrigued by horror books and movies. Raised in a small mountain town in Arizona, she sustained herself on a steady diet of Goosebumps, Fear Street, and Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark books before discovering Stephen King in her mother’s bookshelf.

Amy lives with her husband, their two precious squidlings, and an old gentleman cat by the name of Frodo. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, crafting, and playing games across many platforms.

Review: Pumpkinheads by Rainbow Rowell

Goodreads Blurb

Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends.

Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. (Not many people know that the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world is in Omaha, Nebraska, but it definitely is.) They say good-bye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September 1.

But this Halloween is different—Josiah and Deja are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Their last shift together. Their last good-bye.

Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: What if—instead of moping and the usual slinging lima beans down at the Succotash Hut—they went out with a bang? They could see all the sights! Taste all the snacks! And Josiah could finally talk to that cute girl he’s been mooning over for three years . . .

What if their last shift was an adventure?

My Review: Rated 4 Out of 5 Stars

If you need some cheering up with some added pumpkin spice, then look no further. This YA graphic novel brings you to the most amazing pumpkin patch you could ever imagine. The adventure Deja and Josie has will leave you craving all those delicious treats only available in the autumn season. Deja and Josie are such fabulous friends. They are both so upset that this will be their last year working at the patch since they’re going to college. Josie has had a crush on the fudge girl Marcy for three years. Deja decides they need to check out all the stops at the patch, have fun, eat delicious treats, and have Josie talk to Marcy for once. His love at first sight truly ends with unexpected reality. Love most times is right under your nose. You just need to see the signs and connect the dots. The illustrations really brought this beautiful pumpkin patch come to life.

Author Biography

Rainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff.

Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).

Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .

Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).

Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.

She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.

More at rainbowrowell.com.

Currently Reading: The Women in the Walls by Amy Lukavics

Goodreads Blurb

Author Biography

Review: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Goodreads Blurb

It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will be busier still.

By her brother’s graveside, Liesel’s life is changed when she picks up a single object, partially hidden in the snow. It is The Gravedigger’s Handbook, left behind there by accident, and it is her first act of book thievery. So begins a love affair with books and words, as Liesel, with the help of her accordian-playing foster father, learns to read. Soon she is stealing books from Nazi book-burnings, the mayor’s wife’s library, wherever there are books to be found.

But these are dangerous times. When Liesel’s foster family hides a Jew in their basement, Liesel’s world is both opened up, and closed down.

In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

(Note: this title was not published as YA fiction)

My Review: Rated 3 out of 5 stars

It is a story about the holocaust that will make you feel a hundred emotions. It is a story told through the eyes of death, who narrates it, and through the eyes of the German people. The author uses poetic verses throughout the book to describe moments that will navigate the reader into this captivating story. Throughout the book, the author uses color to describe moments where death describes moments when death occurs, and other characters describe particular moments, like when Liesel tells Max how the weather is outside. The book thief was a teenage girl who risked her life by keeping quiet about the Jewish man hidden by her foster family and the number of books she stole. Liesel was the key that kept Max continuing to fight for his life.

The author, Markus, will shatter our hearts when the world ends for many characters all in one moment. It’s like death came and ripped away all our hopes that the war would end soon; Max and the other characters will survive this nightmare. Unfortunately, not every story can have a happy ending. We are left hopeless and brokenhearted about how Liesel’s life will change from that terrible moment when death comes knocking on the doors of those who live in Himmel Street. “Himmel Street” translates to “the street of heaven.” That unexpected moment will open the gates of heaven for so many innocent lives.

Author Biography

Markus Zusak is the author of five books, including the international bestseller, The Book Thief , which spent more than a decade on the New York Times bestseller list, and is translated into more than forty languages – establishing Zusak as one of the most successful authors to come out of Australia.

To date, Zusak has held the number one position at Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, the New York Times bestseller list, as well as in countries across South America, Europe and Asia.

His books, The Underdog, Fighting Ruben Wolfe, When Dogs Cry (also titled Getting the Girl ), The Messenger (or I am the Messenger ) and The Book Thief have been awarded numerous honours ranging from literary prizes to readers choice awards to prizes voted on by booksellers.

Zusak’s much-anticipated new novel, Bridge of Clay , is set for release in October 2018 in the USA, the UK and Australia, with foreign translations to follow.

Upcoming Book Event With Sabaa Tahir at B&N in Paramus, NJ

About this Event
Join Barnes & Noble – Paramus, NJ on September 30, 2024, as we welcome New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award winning author Sabaa Tahir for a discussion and signing to celebrate the release of HEIR, her newest action-packed, ruthless, and romantic new fantasy that masterfully interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with the burdens of power, the treachery of love and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed. Get ready for a dark and breathless journey that will captivate readers and that may cost these young people their lives—and their hearts. Literally.

Sabaa will be in conversation with Tomi Adeyemi, New York Times betselling author of the Legacy of Orïsha Series, the most recent release of which is Children of Anguish and Anarchy.

BONUS!: Each ticket includes a signed copy of the B&N Exclusive Edition of HEIRwhich features a unique cover, colored endpapers & bonus content.

TICKET INFORMATION

Link to ticket: https://stores.barnesandnoble.com/event/9780062170346-0
VIP Exclusive Admission – $23.45 (Event admission + swag bag + one copy of HEIR B&N Exclusive): **VERY LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE**: A ticket PER PERSON includes:

Exclusive swag bag including HEIR-themed map, tea, and more.
One copy of HEIRB&N Exclusive (out 10/1/24).
SEATED admission to the event space and signing line with Sabaa Tahir.
B&N Exclusive Admission – $23.45 (Admission + one copy of HEIR B&N Exclusive): **LIMITED QUANTITY AVAILABLE**: A ticket PER PERSON includes:

One copy of HEIR B&N Exclusive (out 10/1/24).
Admission to the event space and signing line with Sabaa Tahir.
–>For tickets that include admission to the discussion, there are SEATED and STANDING tickets:

For Seated Tickets: Limited quantity is available and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Purchase of a ticket guarantees entrance to the event for the discussion and signing. However, this ticket may not necessarily guarantee a seat at the event, as later arrivals may be placed in a line behind the seated audience.

For Standing Room-Only Tickets: Limited quantity is available and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Purchase of a ticket guarantees entrance to the event for the discussion and signing. Ticket holders will be granted a standing view from behind the seated audience — some views may be more limited/obstructed than others.

Ticket holders will be admitted into the event beginning at 5 PM on the day of the event. Please have a copy of your ticket available (either printed out or on your phone) for check-in.
Candid photos will be allowed as books are being signed and will be taken by a Barnes & Noble bookseller on the guest’s camera/phone across the table. No posed photos.
The author will personalize (name only) your copy of HEIR included with this ticket & sign (signature only) any additional copies of their books.
Any gifts for the author will be collected prior to the signing line.
Other books by the author will be available for purchase at Barnes & Noble – Paramus.
Due to health and safety and space limitations, those without a ticket will not be permitted into the event space.

GUIDELINES
No memorabilia will be signed at the event.
No large bags will be permitted into the event.
Please arrive on time according to your ticket in order to secure your seat in the event space. Late arrivals may only have access to standing room and may not have the opportunity to enter the event space.
The exact time at which the event ends will be determined on the day. To avoid disappointment, we strongly advise you to arrive on time for the event. Late arrivals may not have the opportunity to meet the author.
All event guidelines are subject to change.
If you have any additional questions, please can call the store directly at: (201) 445-4589.
Barnes & Noble may cancel this event at any time with or without notice to the ticket holders.
Please note that Eventbrite is the only authorized dealer for this event. Each person must have a ticket to enter.

REFUNDS
Attendees can receive refunds up to 1 day (24 hours) before your event start TIME OF 6PM.

If you are unable to attend the event, Barnes & Noble – Paramus, NJ will hold your books for seven days after the event. Please contact the store to arrange your pickup.

Should this event be canceled due to changing COVID-19 concerns, all customers will be refunded their ticket price to the original method of payment per Eventbrite’s refund policy.

Event guidelines are subject to change.

ABOUT HEIR:

An orphan.
An outcast.
A prince.
And a killer who will bring an empire to its knees.

Growing up in the Kegari slums, AIZ has seen her share of suffering. An old tragedy fuels her need for vengeance, but it is love of her people that propels her. Until one hot-headed mistake lands her in an inescapable prison, where the embers of her wrath ignite.

Banished from her tribe for an unforgiveable crime, SIRSHA is a down-on-her-luck tracker who speaks to the earth, air, and water to trace her marks. Destitute, she agrees to hunt down a killer who has murdered children across the Empire. All she has to do is carry out the job and get paid. But then, she falls for a charismatic and inconvenient fugitive who keeps getting in her way.

QUIL is the crown prince of the Empire, nephew of a famed and venerated empress, but he’s loathe to pick up the mantle when his aunt steps down. As the son of the most hated emperor in the history of his people, he, better than anyone, understands that power corrupts. When a vicious new enemy threatens the survival of the Empire, Quil must ask himself if he can rise above his tragic lineage and be the heir his people need.

Beloved storyteller Sabaa Tahir masterfully interweaves the lives of three young people as they grapple with the burdens of power, the treachery of love and the devastating consequences of unchecked greed. Get ready for a dark and breathless journey that will captivate readers and that may cost these young people their lives—and their hearts. Literally.

Current Book Club Pick: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Goodreads Blurb

My review will be posted soon.